Haise backs Cahuzac after Lens's historic 9-1 defeat in Champions League

RC Lens suffered Tuesday the heaviest defeat in the history of French clubs in the Ligue des Champions, losing 9-1 at Bollaert against Como. Forty-eight hours after the shock, Stade Rennais manager Franck Haise publicly offered his support to his successor on the Lens bench, Yannick Cahuzac.

In a press conference Friday, Haise sought to put the scale of the scoreline into perspective without downplaying the pain of the moment. “Defeat is one thing, because we know the level of this Como team, but it’s more the scale of the score that makes the difference. After, in the six other European matches, it’s three wins and three draws. What’s certain is that the Champions League is merciless,” he said.

The former Lens manager, who led the club for four years, drew on his own experience to measure what Cahuzac is going through. In November 2023, his Sang et Or were crushed 6-0 at Arsenal. “I have empathy for Cahu, because I know what it’s like to take a beating in the Champions League. The difference is that three weeks before, we had beaten them (2-1), so the taste was a bit different,” he added.

Cahuzac himself had acknowledged lacking clarity at half-time against Como. He is not alone in his defense: Luis Enrique, PSG manager, had called the result an “accident” that did not reflect the real gap in level between the two clubs.

Lens will have the chance to turn the page as soon as Sunday, with the visit of Olympique de Marseille, who approach this trip on a run of three consecutive victories.