How Lens embraced underdog status to become PSG’s title rivals

Lens, the French Ligue 1 team, have carved out a surprising position as serious contenders for the title, despite operating with a modest budget. Their current standing places them second in the league, just four points behind Paris St-Germain. This rise has been fueled by a strategic approach that emphasizes financial discipline and squad development.

PSG’s exemption from domestic fixtures due to their Champions League commitments has shifted the league’s dynamics. Instead of facing a high-stakes title clash, Lens will host third-tier side Rouen in a friendly on Saturday. While the Ligue de Football Professionnel has accommodated European campaigns before, this decision sparked discontent among Lens. The club had warned that the top flight could be manipulated by European interests.

“Our intention wasn’t to pick a fight with PSG,” said Benjamin Parrot, Lens’ general director. “We wanted the schedule to be maintained as it was set out for teams like us, who have a budget and have built a squad around playing in the league and the Coupe de France.”

Parrot’s comments highlight the frustration of having to adjust their season. The league council’s vote, which was unanimous, forced Lens to compress their schedule, ending their campaign with three games in a week. “It went to a vote and the decision was unanimous, which means that our arguments either didn’t get through or weren’t considered,” Parrot added.

Lens swiftly arranged a replacement match, emphasizing the need for continuity in their performance and fitness. “We would have played just once over a month. In terms of the team’s performance and fitness, organising a fixture became a necessity,” the club executive noted. The match’s proceeds will support Christophe Gleizes, a French football journalist imprisoned in Algeria.

Gleizes received a seven-year sentence in December for “glorifying terrorism” after visiting Algeria to report on JS Kabylie. The ruling drew widespread criticism, particularly in football circles. Parrot, who graduated from the same Parisian institute as Gleizes, revealed that Lens signed a petition demanding his release. “We were one of the first clubs that signed the petition calling for his release,” he said.

Parrot, 40, is part of a trio overseeing Lens’ operations, alongside sporting director Jean-Louis Leca and head coach Pierre Sage. Sage, who joined last summer, previously led Lyon to a dramatic escape from relegation. Leca, like Parrot, was promoted in May of the previous year. The trio meets weekly to align their strategies.

Lens are classified as “challenger clubs,” with the 10th-highest wage bill in Ligue 1. After multiple relegations to the second tier, they returned to prominence three years ago, closing the gap with PSG in the title race. Despite recent achievements, budget constraints persist, exacerbated by collapsed broadcast deals that have impacted French football’s finances.

“The club’s strategy is to keep costs stable, because we know that revenue will keep going down,” Parrot explained. Much of their income relies on academy talent and infrastructure upgrades. In December, they acquired their home stadium, a move Parrot hopes will broaden their financial base. “One season isn’t going to change our financial model or our identity,” he said. “When you look at French football, we’re up against billionaires, sovereign wealth funds, or multi-club ownership. The objective set by club owner Joseph Oughourlian is for us to break even.”

Parrot remains confident in their approach. “We’ll see what happens over the next month, but so far we’re on track to reach our objectives this season,” he added. “We’ve stuck to the wage bill we set out, we’ve brought a number of young players into the first team, and we’ve upgraded some of our infrastructure.”