Fan Focus: What can Sunderland expect from Coupe de France winners RC Lens?

[ASFN Admin]

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PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 22: Adrien Thomasson of RC Lens lifts the French Cup trophy during French Cup Final between RC Lens and OGC Nice at Stade de France on May 22, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Lens finished just six points behind PSG last season in what was a remarkable push for the title. What were the key factors behind your excellent form?

I would say there are three key factors behind the season’s success:

First, the alignment between the ownership, the sporting management, and the coach was solid, with everyone completely on the same wavelength;

Second, Pierre Sage’s coaching played a pivotal role. He is a brilliant tactician with a great feel for the game who always seems to be one step ahead of the opposition;

Third, the team remained reliable across every area of play, even when dealing with numerous injuries. Added to this was a strong sense of team unity that was directly linked to the club’s values.

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The season ended with you winning your first ever Coupe De France against Nice. Did that feel like the reward the team deserved after such a brilliant league campaign?

It is clear that this Coupe de France victory is a reward for the entire club.

The team set the bar very high in terms of ambition. We always sensed that Pierre Sage—despite a modest public persona—wanted to win everything, from the Cup to the league.

The players stepped up and embraced these lofty goals. And as for us supporters, we couldn’t be happier.

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The downside of your success was that manager Pierre Sage left to join Crystal Palace. What can Premier League teams expect from him?

Pierre Sage is a top-tier tactician.

He appears unflappable on the touchline, never jumping for joy when a goal is scored.

He is constantly thinking, anticipating the next move to address issues arising during the match or later in the season.

We didn’t get to see him during a campaign where the club was competing in Europe, but he leaves a fantastic impression—that of a coach who stands a cut above the rest.

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The man to replace Sage was Dino Toppmoller from Frankfurt. How did fans view this?

As with any recruitment move orchestrated by Jean-Louis Leca—RCL’s sporting director and a friend of Florent Ghisolfi—Dino Toppmoller’s arrival at Racing comes as a major surprise.

Securing a German coach of European stature is a remarkable feat, one that quickly makes us forget the disappointing departure of Pierre Sage…

We are eager to see the “Toppmoller touch” in action during competitive play.

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The Lens has some ex-Premier League players in Odsonne Edouard, Florian Thauvin and Thorgan Hazard. Who are the players Sunderland should be wary of?

Florian Thauvin is a key player for RCL, capable of either scoring or setting up goals during matches. With age, alongside his natural ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, he has developed a keen sense for the game and the rhythm of the match. He is being talked about as a future captain.

Other players are also performing well—special mention goes to Matthieu Udol, our left wing-back, whose performance was so strong that Arthur Masuaku was never able to challenge him for the spot during the second half of the season.

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Sunderland’s Florent Ghisolfi worked at Lens for three seasons in the same role he’s in now on Wearside. What impact did he have and how is he viewed amongst your supporters?

Florent Ghisolfi instilled a genuine working method at Racing Club de Lens.

That approach remains part of the club, and there is no doubt that Jean-Louis Leca—also a Corsican—drew significant inspiration from it.

As supporters, we didn’t appreciate his departure mid-season, but we can be grateful to him for building a solid foundation here. We still owe him a great deal today.

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Arthur Masuaku spent six months of last season on loan at Lens, how would you summarise his spell with your club?

Arthur Masuaku did the job as a backup during his six months here.

What really hurt him was getting a red card in the Coupe de France quarter-final—even though he was on the bench. That clearly worked against him moving forward…

On the pitch, in the limited time he played, he did show some promising signs. It’s hard to form a definitive opinion, then.

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What sort of style of play can Sunderland expect from Dino Toppmöller’s side?

Dino Toppmöller is building on the foundations laid by Pierre Sage (and previous coaches), employing a 3-4-3 formation that has become the team’s trademark.

The squad already appears well-oiled during this preseason. Toppmöller seems to have a close relationship with his players and aims to provide them with the individual tools to improve both on the pitch and in their careers.

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Lastly, for a bit of fun, what is your score prediction for both matches?

It’s hard to predict the outcome at this stage of the season. In this case—and it’s not exactly a bold prediction on my part—I see a good 2–2 draw. Of course, as a fan, my heart wants Lens to win.

Enjoy the match, and have a great season overall!

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