It was therefore a good opportunity to come back to his great inspiration to make Franck Haise, then coach of the reserve, the coach of the first team. Florent Ghisolfi also returned to the unexpected transfer of Seko Fofana, whom he readily compares to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He also spoke about why Italian club Atalanta Bergamo was an example to follow.
The Franck Haise find
“Training doesn’t just train players. We were lucky to have in training to have a man and a coach like Haise. It was not difficult for me to see that he had the qualities to manage the first team. I put all my determination to convince Arnaud Pouille (general manager) and Joseph Oughourlian (club owner). We quickly got on the same page.
Atalanta Bergamo: an example to follow
“We have objectives. I am not saying that we are aiming for the C1. Today we must as a priority that we continue to move forward in the structuring of the club. Clubs have managed to settle at a very high level. The example of Atalanta Bergamo which, year after year, has established itself at the top of the Campionnato ranking. The Italian club has created value on its players. He developed new financial resources. He has been evolving for several seasons at the top of the bill and he plays the C1. We are not there yet but it is motivating for the future.“
Seko Fofana, the Zlatan of RC Lens
I have always said that his recruitment would validate the Lens project in L1. Like Paris, which built the great PSG by recruiting Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Being able to attract Seko Fofana marked our ambition to settle in L1 over time. He got the feeling. His instinct took him to Lens. In which club could he be so valued? Everyone was convinced, but the file was complicated. In the end, it was an incredible emotional record.
Lens is still a small one, but Lens is not afraid of anyone
Our players form a real collective. They have courage from the heart of respect. I like to say that we have to respect everyone, because we are small, we are lens, we are still small but we should not be afraid of anyone and these players are not afraid of anyone.