After its big victory in Lyon, Racing ends its season with one goal in mind: to win a trophy. The prestigious Coupe de France extends its arms to the Sang et Or. Let’s analyze the Lensois plan.
Photo CSO
A complete arsenal and a fully loaded team
Many were surprised to see the team aligned by Pierre Sage with Les Gones who nevertheless had a third place, synonymous with direct qualification for the Champions League, to be sought. We then say to ourselves that Pierre Sage, who needs to preserve key elements of his squad, for whom there is nothing more to play for in the championship, is giving a little favor to his Lyon friends. And that the stakes of the final take precedence over everything else. Either.
The blood and gold coach sees much further and cannot throw away even a single championship match, even “without stakes”. Demand and ambition prohibit this type of consideration. No, the technician decided to trust his entire squad, to concern all the players who worked, each at their own level, for the success of this season. Let us recall the sulphate-like speech after the meeting in Brest, almost unfair, accusing some of them of having it “pulled”. The man is tough. But not resentful: on the contrary, he lines up during this 34e day of incriminated players in Brest. And they do him well. Saïd and Sotoca, when we thought they were done or finished, produced a high-level first half to knock out Lyon’s hopes.
Pierre Sage is not just a romantic who loves his players. He is also, this season has proven to us, a fine tactician. The sequence of the last championship matches, against Nantes, Paris and Lyon, was a real tactical laboratory. Three objectives then seem to emerge: unite an entire group with a lot of confidence, try new positions and probe everyone’s state of form. The bet is successful. There are obviously the results, with this last 4 to 0 inflicted on OL with a largely reworked eleven. The manner is also there, with tempting combinations, even in the severe defeat against PSG, where Racing dominated in the game. On the field, Racing is ready and now has several strings to its bow to face its opponent from Friday, raptor turned galinette ash.
Clear skies for a successful takeoff?
As this Old Lady final approaches, the lights are green on the pitch but also in the analysis of the context. Lens finishes strong while OGC Nice, evening competitor, will compete in the play-offs to avoid going down to Ligue 2 next week. Terrible disappointment for the Côte d’Azur club, when it seemed to have its destiny in its hands, only to concede a sad 0-0 at home against the scarlet lantern, Metz. This season in Nice is very similar to that of RC Lens 2007-2008, a team remodeled to play the leading roles which will end up going down to Ligue 2 and losing a Coupe de la Ligue final. We hope that the comparison will be accurate and that Friday’s final will result in a victory for the favorite. One thing is certain: Nice must still play two play-off matches to save its skin in the elite, decisive for the future of the entire club, which will certainly undermine motivation and confidence on the eve of the match at the Stade de France.
The planets seem aligned for Racing to win the first Coupe de France in its history. In addition to this runner-up place, it would be magnificent, almost unexpected given the financial power of rivals like Lyon, Lille, Monaco, Marseille, Rennes or even Nice. The success of this Lens is the result of meticulous work, with the right people put in the right place. We must not miss this dream opportunity to fill the trophy cabinet.
It’s a whole people who are preparing to experience an exhilarating week and evening. It will be there as always, and will bring additional weight to the scale of predictions. Be careful, however, not to play the match before the time and not to bend under the pressure of what is at stake. Those who are wary will always have in mind the match lost 3 to 0 against Lille, the black point of the season as the team seemed to be out of style, while the public’s expectations were completely different. Let this serve as a warning. We will go, we Lensoises and Lensois, to set fire in the capital to experience the moment of a whole decade, and to write one of the most beautiful pages of Racing. Go Lens!
