RC Lens beat PSG on Sunday evening and now find themselves second in the standings just four points behind the Parisians.
Beyond the accounting aspect, Franck Haise's players have shown impressive collective strength since the start of the season.
The Lensois seem to be having a perfect season for the moment, a bit like that of Montpellier in 2011-2012, as former Hérault midfielder Geoffrey Dernis tells us.
It's an impression, impalpable, both solid and so fragile.
This little thing in the air that transforms a beautiful season into a waking dream, where everything fits together well and never seems to have to stop.
After going through all the big players (Monaco, Marseille, Lyon, Rennes) - and the little ones too for that matter - RC Lens definitely took their season to another dimension on Sunday, by outclassing PSG at Bollaert.
A collective demonstration of play and courage against the juggernaut of the championship which makes it clear that this surprising team, now second four points behind the leader, has everything to stay on the peaks of Ligue 1. Until believing, perhaps , to the title of champion.
Continuity
But that is not for now.
It shouldn't be, in any case, believes Geoffrey Dernis, who experienced this kind of adventure as magnificent as it is improbable with Montpellier in 2012. If we called the former attacking midfielder to talk about the Lensois, it is that the parallel between the two clubs, 11 years apart, is not illegitimate.
These are two strong regional entities, which have had their best seasons when they did not take themselves for others, with a coherent sporting direction and players chosen to fit perfectly, in which the supporters recognize themselves.
“In this kind of club, it works when there is continuity.
No big revolution in the transfer window, you form an intelligent group around a coach who knows what he wants, you correct a little if necessary, but that's all and after that it rolls because the players know each other and move forward together “, explains Dernis.
When the base is laid down like this and everything starts to come together well, that's when it gets interesting.
"If you start a season well with a group that gets along well and has been performing well for two or three years, you don't even have any doubts anymore," he continues.
You play, without taking your head, and little by little you realize that the results are good and so you simply continue.
When I hear them speak, I hear our speeches of the time.
»
A remark illustrated by the words of Jonathan Gradit after PSG, for example, who called for "continuing to do what we do well, playing together, not taking ourselves for others", and underlining the " superb understanding" of the group with Franck Haise.
Lens exudes something strong, powerful, reminiscent of the good old days of the glorious past.
“I feel a lot of confidence and a lot of humility.
They are sure of their strengths, and know what they want to do.
It looks like what we felt in 1998, ”said French champion Yohan Lachor in
Le Parisien
on Monday.
Geoffrey Dernis tries to put words to this feeling: “There are lots of little things that are turning in the right direction.
Matches where you're less good but you end up winning, and then with each slap you take, it finally puts you back on the right track.
I don't really know how to explain it, but you're not even afraid that it will turn out at some point.
We never asked ourselves the question of whether we lost three or four games in a row what it was going to give.
»
Not wanting to play in the court of PSG
Driven by this state of mind, the group is moving forward quietly, inflating ambitions as the steps are taken.
“There are markers.
For me in 2012 it is the victory at La Mosson against Saint-Etienne (29th day, end of March), remembers the former left-hander.
We won 1-0 in a complicated match, on a crazy goal from Giroud at the end of the match.
After that match I said to myself "damn, this year we can't not catch something".
First it's the first five places, then five games from the end it's the Champions League, then three games from the end it's the title.
“All this while avoiding zieuter the classification too closely to avoid knots in the brain.
These markers, for Lens, may be the trip to Lyon in February, the derby against Losc in March or the revenge at the Parc des Princes in April.
In the meantime, the Northerners intend to stay in their place, as Franck Haise recalled on Saturday evening after launching the victory song with the supporters.
“Our goal is to keep doing what we're doing, regardless of the opponent.
Let's continue to be ambitious in the game and we can have ambitions.
But we are not going to compare ourselves to Paris, ”warned the Sang et Or coach. That's good, that's exactly the trap to avoid.
“We must not see ourselves too high.
I think PSG will be champions, because it's still another level, agrees Dernis.
The Lensois must not put themselves in the lead to challenge them for the title, just to keep their second place as much as possible.
Then, who will live will see!
Everything is possible.
»
In any case, the current coach of ES Pérols, a Hérault club which plays at the regional level, admits observing the Northerners with a touch of nostalgia.
“You look at how the group lives, it was us in 2012, he says.
You see players very well together, they make the effort for each other on the field, they go and get things together, it's communicative, they don't take the lead, even in interviews there are none. not one who pulls the blanket to himself.
It's beautiful what they do.
»
How far can they go?
This is the question that will brighten up the second part of the championship, and not only in Pas-de-Calais.
All football fans take pleasure in seeing this team evolve, which arouses curiosity and sympathy.
We won't say what that augurs for something, but we will end with two anecdotes spotted while preparing this paper: Like Montpellier in 2012, Lens is playing its third season since its rise in Ligue 1. And the Lensois will end their season at… Auxerre .
Yes yes, like in 1998.
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Soccer
League 1
RC Lens
Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG)
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