Barely arrived at the Gaillette, Pierre Sage must already deal with a complex heritage. On paper, the new RC Lens coach has an XXL group, with no less than 34 players at his disposal to start the preparation. A situation that might seem comfortable, even a luxury, for a coach who must put his paw on a new workforce. However, this abundance of goods hides a gaping flaw, an imbalance which is already the first great challenge of Will Still's successor.
34 players on hand, but wise help
The problem is in the defensive sector, which was literally looted this summer. The departures of executives like Kevin Danso, Facundo Medina and Abdukodir Khusanov have still not been offset. The observation is clear: the defense of three which was the strength of the club shattered. Today, Pierre Sage can only count on Jonathan Gradit and Malang Sarr as real experiences in central hinge, supported by some promising young people. It is far too little for a club with European ambitions.
Management works on tracks, such as that leading to Sebastiano Esposito (Fiorentina), but nothing is yet concrete. The arrival of Matthieu Udol, coming from Metz, is good news, but it is above all a left side, even if it can help out in the axis. While the club is activated to degrease its midfielder by selling players with high market value like Andy Diouf or Neil El Aynaoui, the reconstruction of the rear guard is dragged.
The paradox of a plethoric workforce
The situation is all the more worrying since Pierre Sage must quickly find solutions. Time is running out and opponents in preparation matches (AS Rome, RB Leipzig) will make no gifts. How to set up your game principles without a solid defensive foundation? The management is warned: it will be necessary to reinvest some of the millions of euros expected from sales to provide the coach with the tools necessary for his mission.
This is the whole paradox of the current situation of the RC Lens. Pierre Sage finds himself at the head of a quantitatively enormous workforce, but qualitatively very weakened in a vital sector. He is spoiled for choice in attack and in the middle, but must tinker behind. A real headache which already places the new coach against his first major test: managing a priority project while advancing the rest of the group. The Lensois transfer window is still far from over.
