Leaving the Champions League with a third place synonymous with the Europa League and eight points on the clock, there are worse things to come back after 21 years of absence. On August 31, during the draw, RC Lens discovered its group in a mixture of appetite and modesty. Arsenal, Sevilla, PSV… Franck Haise and his men were well aware of the task that awaited them. At that time, even the technician would not necessarily have bet a “large case of champagne or wine” on such a course. This is what he admitted this Tuesday evening, full of mischief, as usual. And yet, the result is there.
This Tuesday evening, he was able to say goodbye to the competition straight in the eyes, to the courage and in a burst of life which characterizes this group, which will therefore see the C3 next February. In a Bollaert of great evenings, and while defeat was forbidden, the Sang et Or managed to beat Sevilla FC this Tuesday evening at the end of added time (2-1). A happy success, not necessarily deserved but which is not a scandal either as Sevilla FC, obliged to win, had difficulty wrapping up this meeting which was long as disappointing as it was difficult.
Brice Samba does not intend to “be choosy”
Tense, tense, this last group match ended in the second period with a story of penalties. Polish piston Przemyslaw Frankowski opened the scoring on the hour mark (63rd) with a counter and a not-so-obvious foul from Sevillian defender Soumaré. After a first contentious save from Brice Samba, Sergio Ramos responded in the 79th minute with a panenka. Then with courage, the Lensois ended up bending the meeting and the destiny of this group B thanks to the incoming Angelo Fulgini (90 + 6th) scorer after a clinical counterattack.
“This second goal a minute from the end was the only moment where I could breathe calmly,” confides Haise. It arrives at the end of a Champions League journey but it is also a projection towards something else, always at European level, for the players, for the club, for the staff, for the people who love the club. It’s a new adventure that must be taken. » “We know very well that we are not the best in the world, but we give 1000%. Tonight, the stakes took a bit out of us, but it’s a great reward to be in the Europa League. We are not going to be choosy,” said captain Brice Samba, author of a great performance.
“The bottom line is that we all grew up”
Winning at home, when we only hit three times on goal, including twice in the frame, and against a recovering team (16th in Liga) says something about the level of this RC Lens. Not everything has been perfect in this campaign, despite this gigantic feat against Arsenal on October 3. The sequence of matches since the start of the season has been clearly felt. Furthermore, the summer recruits did not give full satisfaction like Elye Wahi, a scorer lacking confidence, or midfielder Andy Diouf, confined to the sidelines.
In the end, this new adventure which begins in the Europa League seems more suited to this group whose experience and technical quality are still a little limited for the very high level. “The bottom line is that we have all grown up. There are 15 or 16 players who have gained experience. There is a club which has evolved thanks to this campaign, there are young people in the Youth League (U19) who are growing and are qualified thanks to their first place in the groups. The results from my point of view are, one cannot say perfect, but I am very proud of it,” Haise continued.
The Artésiens will know their opponent on December 18. This will be a club having finished second in its Europa League group. With the right to taste a little more of the great European thrill.
