After an end to the championship where RC Lens finished in 7th place, just three points behind Europe, it’s time for the Sang et Or to resume. After medical tests last week, Franck Haise’s men had their first training session on Monday at La Gaillette. During the traditional back-to-school press conference, Arnaud Pouille the club director, Florent Ghisolfi the sports coordinator and Franck Haise the coach took turns at the microphone.
Objective: first to maintain
After a crazy end to the championship where the Sang et Or were on the verge of finishing in the top 5, we have to start all over again in a season of all dangers. Due to the increase in Ligue 1 to 18 clubs from the 2023-2024 season, the last four will go down at the end of the financial year. So for the third season in the elite, the objective remains to “stabilize Lens in Ligue 1”, says general manager Arnaud Pouille. “We will always have the ambition to play and improve things. I will not deny these principles because of the four descents in Ligue 2 at the end of the season”, explains coach Frank Haise, who can now count on two new assistants (Yannick Cahuzac and Hervé Sekli).
The goalkeeper, priority of the transfer window
Since the start of the transfer window, already four players have arrived in Pas-de-Calais : the Poles Lukasz Poreba and Adam Buksa, the piston Jimmy Cabot and the midfielder Salis Abdul Samed. “It’s a good thing to already have four players at the start. For their integration and knowledge of training methodologies”, assures Franck Haise. The recruitment unit is now looking at the priority: the recruitment of a titular goalkeeper. Wuilker Farinez should have occupied this position but he seriously injured his knee (rupture of a cruciate ligament) at the beginning of June. Jean-Louis Leca remains at the club but with the label of number 2. According to our information, the club would like to recruit Brice Samba, the former Caennais, today in Nottingham Forest in England.
In the direction of the departures, there is a certainty and many questions. Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo will no longer play in the Lensois jersey, he who is back on loan at PSG. For the three strong men of last season (Cheick Doucouré, Seko Fofana and Jonathan Clauss), the future is uncertain in Lens a month and a half before the first league match. “We are not under a budgetary obligation to sell our players, even if no player is untransferable”, says Arnaud Pouille
Inter Milan and West Ham to prepare for recovery
For Lens, the first league match will take place on the weekend of August 7 with the reception of Brest. And to best prepare for this recovery, Racing has planned things in a big way, with the receptions of Inter Milan (July 23) and West Ham (July 30) at the end of preparation. A preparation which will begin this Saturday with a friendly match behind closed doors at La Gaillette against Paris FC.