Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Will Still builds a team that looks on the brink of a Champions League challenge, only for his hopes to unravel after the winter transfer window, when key players are sold, and the squad starts slipping down the standings.
This could easily describe last season when Still led Stade de Reims, a club with rich history in European competition (including their historic run to the inaugural European Cup final in 1956), to a promising position before a mid-season collapse, triggered by a lack of reinforcements and the departure of Azor Matusiwa. Dreams of European glory were dashed. But this time, I’m talking about the current situation at RC Lens.
Just three weeks ago, Lens had the best defensive record in Ligue 1, conceding only 18 goals. They were sixth, just two points behind Lille OSC in fourth. But after a tough weekend, they find themselves in eighth, now seven points adrift of Lille, and with the third-best defensive record, following three consecutive losses.
Ill-discipline and poor results A 2-0 loss to OGC Nice and a 2-0 defeat at RC Strasbourg Alsace might have been written off as tough games against two of Ligue 1’s stronger sides. But a 3-1 loss to FC Nantes raises serious concerns. Despite Nantes’ struggles in recent months, including a humiliating 7-1 loss to AS Monaco just a week earlier, Lens failed to capitalize on the opportunity to get back on track. Adding to the frustration, they finished the game with a red card, the third consecutive match where they’ve been sent off.
The root cause of this downturn seems clear: Lens’ squad has been shaken up more than Still’s squad at Reims last season. This January, Lens parted ways with goalkeeper and club captain Brice Samba, along with two crucial defenders, Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin Danso. Losing just one of these key players would have been difficult for any manager, but losing all three has left Still with an unenviable challenge.
The search for the right balance Still is now tasked with rebuilding his squad mid-season, a process complicated further by a series of player suspensions. After the recent defeat, Still said, “It’s not for a lack of effort, but we’ve yet to find the right recipe.”
“I’m not complaining. We knew the situation coming out of the transfer window, the difficulties that could arise, and now we’re facing them,” he added. His approach is far more measured than last season, when he criticized Reims for selling Matusiwa despite his pleas for reinforcements after losing several key players to the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup. Back then, Still voiced his frustrations to The Athletic, saying, “I wanted to be really ambitious and challenge myself and the team right to the end. And it’s like, right, we won’t get the chance to do that.” One can’t help but notice the striking similarities with the current Lens situation. Have they, too, missed their chance to be “really ambitious”?
Ligue 1 subplots of the week In other Ligue 1 news, Olympique de Marseille president Pablo Longoria made headlines after Derek Cornelius was sent off in their Saturday loss to AJ Auxerre. Longoria remarked, “You can write it down: Pablo Longoria calls it corruption.” He has since regretted his comments.
Meanwhile, Lille hosted Monaco in a crucial clash at the top of the table. Lille triumphed 2-1, damaging Monaco’s hopes for a Champions League playoff spot. This victory moved Lille up to fourth place, swapping positions with their rivals.
Paris Saint-Germain secured a 3-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais, extending their lead to 13 points at the top of the table. This match also saw rising tensions between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Lyon’s John Textor.
