Haise at the baton, his players at the instruments: behind the scenes of the brilliant video of RC Lens

This is a new blow, one more this season, cleverly orchestrated by RC Lens. A way to celebrate, in an exquisite and at the very least original way, the upcoming participation of the artesian club in the next Champions League campaign.

Barely their last match punctuated by a new success acquired in Auxerre lands Saturday, June 3 (3-1), the Blood and Gold posted on their social networks a funny video: Franck Haise at ease at the baton, with players (the entire squad) in tune, all flanked by an instrument in hand ... All on the tunes of Ligue 1, then C1.

A season without a false note... 🎼 #Ligue1UberEats #UCL #ArtésiensEtEuropéens pic.twitter.com/CfvVqV5L0J

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) June 3, 2023

"The idea for this video came to us several months ago, when the prospect of qualifying for the Champions League became reasonable," said Benjamin Parrot, the club's communications director. We presented the idea to Franck (Haise) and Arnaud (Pouille, general manager). The goal was not to be too serious, or too classic. They quickly validated the desire. »

"It was a big hour of general cacophony!"

By making the Lensois coach gesticulate and staging Seko Fofana (trombone), Brice Samba (drum) or Wesley Saïd (triangle), the leitmotiv was to pay tribute to the region and the local culture. "In the North, there is a real tradition around wind bands and brass bands. The spirit fit well with the tone of joyful fervor that characterizes our club. This video is a real metaphor, and that's what immediately pleased Franck. So we were able to get the whole team, the 26 players who make up the squad, on board in this little adventure. Suffice to say that it was a big hour of general cacophony! Parrot laughs.

This one-minute and ten-minute video was produced during the week, despite difficulties in finding an available room. A two-hour slot was found Wednesday afternoon, during a busy schedule for the club. It was finally in the town of Oignies (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), a few kilometers east of Lens, that the various actors – musicians of the orchestra of the Frédéric Chopin Conservatory included – met in the concert hall "9-9 bis".

When Leca has to find a van to transport instruments

The footage shows mischievous players, visibly happy to take a welcome breath. And which did not take long to lend themselves fully to the concerto. "We still had some logistical difficulties, Jean-Louis Leca had to help us out from a van for the transport of instruments ... He arrived at training with it, it was the first time he drove one! But everything took place in a beautiful atmosphere. Some are usually rather shy, but here, they all rushed to their instrument. To make the silence, it was not an easy task, laughs the dircom. It went in all directions."

The club's communication department has already planned to release another video on the funniest sequences, this Monday on its social networks. Accompanied by the musicians, the runners-up in Ligue 1 did not even have to swap shorts and cleats (visible in the video) to play a few notes tinged with a soft sound of the Champions League. "Some music lovers have even discovered themselves," dares Benjamin Parrot. Players will have the opportunity to enjoy it – like us! — this tasty sequence, during their few hours of flight to Marbella. The whole group from Lens, staff and staff included, must indeed stretch for a few days in Spain the joyful fanfare that will have been this melodious season.