Surprising runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, RC Lens has made an excellent start to the season. In this prosperous period, four men stood out in particular.
A breath of air descends from the north. After a promising 7th for his return to Ligue 1 last year, RC Lens is playing the leading roles in the elite this season, 2nd at seven points from PSG. Before the shock against Lyon this Saturday evening (9 p.m.) and when we arrive almost at the third of the championship, zoom on the Lensoise success, symbolized by four men.
Seko Fofana: the boss
By leaving Italy and Udine to put down his suitcases in the North last year, Seko Fofana had detonated. Joining the promoted Lensois at the expense of more upscale clubs was surprising. This “heart choice“, Carefully considered, has paid off. Elected best player in Ligue 1 in September, the Ivorian international impresses with RC Lens. At 26, the midfielder trained at Manchester City is confirming the beautiful promises made last season.
Named captain this year, he is the boss of the Sang et Or (he did not miss any game and scored 3 goals). As good in defense as in attack, number 8 excels in a “box to box” role that suits him perfectly. A real spearhead of his team, he makes breakthroughs and reigns supreme in the middle thanks to his physical impact. But the former Bastiais not only uses his power, he is also a formidable ball player. Let Bollaert take advantage of this because he might not go on in the North if he continues to string together such performances. The most expensive player in the history of Racing (10 M € bonus included) could also pay off big.
Jonathan Clauss: the future Blue?
He is one of those rare players who break through at a very high level late in life. At 29, Jonathan Clauss has never been so strong. Occupying the position of “piston” so dear to his coach, the Lensois side is wreaking havoc on his right side, distilling many quality centers to his partners (4 assists). The Strasbourg native is also a very good setter. His endurance and his good quality of foot make him one of the very best full-backs in Ligue 1. To the point of offering himself a future in Blue?
Didier Deschamps is rather reluctant to select players who have never played in the European Cup. But the current performance of the Lensois could clearly open the doors to the team of the France team. The former player of Arminia Bielefeld, who was still playing in the National in 2017 (in Avranches), would not be disoriented since the Blues have adopted a 3-4-3 tactical scheme for a few matches with “pistons” on the sides. It would therefore not be so surprising to see Jonathan Clauss wearing the tricolor jersey at a post where no one has given full satisfaction (Pavard, Dubois).
Przemyslaw Frankowski: the great find
Unknown when he arrived in Lens this summer from the Chicago Fire, Przemyslaw Frankowski turned out to be one of the best rookies in the championship. Excellent pick, the 26-year-old Pole, has experienced an express adaptation and is making a name for himself in Ligue 1. A true Swiss army knife in his early days, he quickly established himself as a “piston” on the left side of the point of becoming one of the major assets of the northern club. A very complete player, with Jonathan Clauss, of whom he is the perfect counterpart, he is one of the strengths of Franck Haise’s system.
While he still has some progress to make defensively, the former Jagiellonia Bialystok is very interesting offensively. Good technique with the ball at the foot, liveliness, intelligence of the game … So many qualities that he always puts at the service of the collective, a sign of his very good mentality. More surprisingly, he is currently the most prolific player in Racing (3 goals and 3 assists). The Blood and Gold revelation notably marked during the derby won against LOSC (1-0) on September 18, which will definitely enter the hearts of supporters.
Franck Haise: the master tactician
We could also have mentioned other players such as Florian Sotoca, Arnaud Kalimuendo, or Kevin Danso. A sign that the good fortune of the Racing Club de Lens comes first and foremost through the collective, built and sublimated by Franck Haise. Since his appointment in February 2020, the former coach of the reserve team has managed to bring back into the elite a club that had been moping for too long in Ligue 2. But above all, he knew how to impregnate his paw to completely transform the game of a team, until then moribund.
The 50-year-old coach, for whom “cmembership” and “ambitionAre the key words, full of ideas. Its 3-4-3 system, in which the role of the two pistons is predominant, works miracles. He has clear and precise playing principles that he tries to apply to each meeting. His team always raises from behind and uses constant pressure to destabilize the opponent. And if his philosophy is mainly carried forward, the successor of Philippe Montanier does not forget the defensive rigor: “it’s all about balance», As he likes to recall.
Frank Haise has a record that exceeds all expectations at the head of RC Lens and is one of the most attractive French technicians. Saturday’s match against OL will serve as an additional test for the blood and gold guide and his players.
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