Men’s 3-0 at halftime, Lens managed a magnificent comeback in the second half to snatch a draw (3-3) from Brest on Friday, in the opening of the 31st round of Ligue 1. This point allows RCL (63 points) to come back within three points of Paris SG, but the latter could take a comfortable lead at the top of the table with a victory against Angers on Saturday. At the end of the match, Lens coach Pierre Sage did not hide his anger speaking to Ligue1+: «I made a mistake. I wanted everyone to hear my speech at halftime, that’s why they came back in the 50th minute. We were breaking a pact, I didn’t feel respected. I didn’t get what I give.»
And the northern coach continued: «We wanted to rotate after the match 72 hours ago (against Toulouse in the French Cup). Playing time is not given, it is earned. In the heat of the moment, that’s why I feel betrayed. It’s a strong word. I take responsibility for the poor first half of the match. In Metz, I had the same experience, six months later, I make the same mistake. We aired our dirty laundry in public and we exposed ourselves to the whole of France. From now on, when they shake my hand and don’t play, I don’t want to see any irritation. From now on, those who will play will be the ones I decide. I may have done it a little too late in the season, I regret rotating too much. Tonight, I opened up and we took a big draft. I want to tell you that if we had won 4-3, I would have said the same thing. About the players at the top? You saw the changes…»
«In football, there is no such thing as luck. We must respect football.» Author of the first goal of the Lens comeback, Florian Thauvin admitted that his team «failed in our first act, there is a real frustration. Toulouse didn’t teach us a lesson. We pulled off the feat of coming back to 3-3 at the end of the match. Given our first half, we weren’t ready to start the match in the best way. I don’t know if it’s psychological. In football, there is no such thing as luck. We must respect football. We missed the opportunity to take three points, we have to work for the future. I believe the subject is closed, there is no longer a title race. If you don’t win every weekend, you’re out of the race against PSG. It’s a personal feeling, it’s going to be very complicated. We will play until the end but with the result tonight, we know it’s complicated.»
