A celebration worthy of the performance of a team that no one expected there. RC Lens, surprise of the season and "champion of hearts" this season in Ligue 1, beat Ajaccio on Saturday night for its last home game of the season, securing even before the last day the second place in Ligue 1, qualifying for the Champions League.
Suffice to say that after the meeting, in Bollaert, we set the mood. First, the traditional "we quibbled" took place just after the meeting, initiated this time by the discreet president of the club, Joseph Oughourlian.
📷🔥 FINAL EPISODE: Olélé, Olala ... They quibbled the @ACAjaccio! With as a bonus, Joseph Oughourlian, the president of the @RCLens. pic.twitter.com/E0S7m6Fy7i
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) May 27, 2023
Fireworks then lit up the stadium as the Champions League anthem resounded in the stadium for the first time since 2002-2003.
🎵 21 years since this music was played at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium!
The @RCLens will play the @ChampionsLeague next season! pic.twitter.com/F6oEMoLXJ0
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) May 27, 2023
If, for the fans, the party continued in the streets of the city, the players and managers went in front of the press to debrief an exceptional season and project themselves on the most beautiful to come: the Champions League. "It's magnificent, we must remember only good things this year," says defenseman Jonathan Gradit. We're going to enjoy it again next year. We have experienced extraordinary things this year and it is a fair reward for everything we have achieved within the club for several seasons now. The Champions League is the culmination of a project. The Champions League is Real Madrid, it's Bayern Munich, it's a celebration in Bollaert. »
"The most important thing, keep our state of mind"
Gradit does not forget to salute his coach, Franck Haise, whom he considers the main reason for the success of the Artésiens. Haise, who should logically be elected coach of the year Sunday night at the UNFP Trophies, has also confirmed having been solicited by other clubs. "We plan to meet with management next week," he explains. I will give myself a few days to taste this beautiful moment. I did not say it would stop. There may be solicitations. There are already some. I am very happy in this club. »
More generally, the question of the squad that will face Europe at the beginning of next season raises questions. Some key players, including midfielder Seko Fofana for example, will be difficult to keep. This is in any case the message conveyed by the Oughourlian in front of the media. "We don't always have control over these things. We are aware of our size, and if big guys come for players or staff members, there is not much we can do. We are preparing for these eventualities. »
Florian Sotoca, striker and figure of the club, concludes: "We are very proud to bring Lens back to the European Cup. We know that during the off-season, there are always departures, arrivals, it's part of the lot but the most important thing will be to keep our state of mind. »