RC Lens won 1-0 this Friday at Bollaert against Le Havre as part of the 20th day of Ligue 1. Pierre Sage, returning to certain slightly more classic choices compared to the match lost 3-1 in Marseille, gives his feelings after this sometimes difficult confrontation, but which allows his team to revive, in addition to temporarily regaining first place.
Lensois.com: Pierre Sage, it wasn’t always easy, but you knew how to react immediately after your defeat in Marseille…
All the credit goes to our opponent, who was difficult to maneuver. In the first half, we managed to find the rhythm after a start to the match that I didn’t like at all. I liked the way we built our game from the 15th. This goal before half-time helped us to have a little material at the break to be able to adjust some tactical aspects. We could have doubled the score at the start of the second half, but with the score 1-0 and because of our activity, it became more chaotic afterwards.
What did you not like about your start?
The aggressiveness, the numerous errors in the transmission, the bad decisions on the choice of the player to whom to give the ball. I find that it puts the questioning in the heads of the players at a time when we don’t need it, when we have to tighten the lines and everything that we can tighten to resemble what we were before Marseille. I don’t think it was the best way, but what was interesting was that the team was able to react. It was enough for one or two actions to take place and the psychological side became positive again, allowing us to play as we did in the past.
The return of the pistons to their favorite side was good (editor’s note: Udol is a passer for Aguilar), compared to the match in Marseille…
Yes ! They say that only fools don’t change their minds… I took a step back from certain decisions taken last week which were not appropriate. The players were, I think, a little vindictive about what I imposed on them.
“Two victories from the objective”
It took you longer than usual to make your changes. For what ?
I didn’t want to disorganize the team too much (smile). More seriously, I saw that we were pretty well within the tactical line that we had drawn up for this match. I also had in mind the fact that on Wednesday (editor’s note: in Troyes in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France), certain players were going to have to be fresh and that it was important to let them rest this evening.
You regain first place and therefore put pressure on PSG who will play in Strasbourg on Sunday. How do you view this situation?
Luis Enrique said by winning at Auxerre that he was putting pressure on Lens, so we, indeed, are also putting pressure on PSG. It’s very easy to play on Friday when you win because you can watch the matches quietly and they play with that in mind. We are still determined to score the target number of points to be able to attack Europe. We are two victories away from this goal. Having regained 1st place this Friday is something positive, but what will count in the end is the points counter.
Is it more comfortable to be the hunter?
If we are equipped, yes. When you’re being hunted, you have to run fast, but it just depends on your resources. From a psychological point of view, I think it’s exactly the same thing. When our opponents face us as leader or second, they always want to beat a team at the top of the table. We are lucky to have this status. I don’t think we are fighting with PSG in the long term, we are simply with the idea of building something very positive for us and we realize, through the way we played this evening, that there is still room for improvement.
Comments collected by Christophe Schaad at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium
