At the Bollaert stadium in Lens,
Don’t be surprised, this Wednesday morning, to have a problem finding an ENT available in Pas-de-Calais in the coming days. With the crazy atmosphere set by the Bollaert stadium during the match against Arsenal (2-1), there is surely an increase in the number of tinnitus in the area. “We’ve had quite a few matches here, and I think it’s one of the best atmospheres,” admitted Jonathan Gradit after the match. From the warm-up, we felt that there was a different fervor. »
In reality, it all started well before the warm-up. From Tuesday morning, a huge crowd flocked to the RCL store, a stone’s throw from Bollaert, to collect the “Precious”: the new Sang et Or tunic, in homage to the European evenings experienced by the Lensois people ago. twenty years. “I’ve been working here for a long time, and I’ve never seen this,” a club employee told us in front of the store, where the queue continued to grow.
English fans scattered throughout the stadium
“I have no more words for them,” smiled Brice Samba. It’s just incredible, we’re lucky to play in front of them. » If the Lensois, some present in front of the stadium gates four hours before kick-off, were obviously en masse, the Arsenal supporters were not left out. In addition to the huge contingent present in the park, many Gunners fans (English and French) also filled the other stands.
Like Kylian and Nathan, both 20 years old, impressed by the Lensois stadium, who came for the first time to see an official Gunners match from Metz, returning just after the match. “We already had a friendly match in Nuremberg this summer, but this is something else, it’s my first Champions League match. » Price of happiness: 215 euros per place.
“In the top 1 of atmospheres”
If we heard them after the goal of Gabriel Jesus (14th), which for a few minutes dampened the atmosphere a little, the English fans were reduced to silence in the face of the power of the artesian voices, warmed up by Sylvano, the announcer , during the composition of the teams, which served as a bit of a guide when deploying the tifo in the Marek stand. “There were some very nice evenings last year, but this atmosphere [face à Arsenal] is in the top 3, and perhaps in the top 1, smiled Florian Sotoca. There was everything: a great atmosphere, a great team in front of us. »
“Today, we are reaping the fruits of what happened last season, it is an exceptional celebration, a match without pressure that we must savor,” said Jonathan, an RC Lens fan who came from Picardy, before the meeting. You feel that there is a special atmosphere, you feel that it is the high level that is going to arrive on the pitch, you ask yourself lots of questions, you tell yourself that it is going to be super difficult. You want to party after the match. »
Wahi celebrated by Bollaert
The Lensois supporters celebrated even more after the goals from Adrien Thomasson (25th) and Elye Wahi (69th). An explosion of happiness, which marked the new Sang et Or striker, who arrived this summer from Montpellier, who, not very verbose in front of the journalists, still wanted to highlight this very special moment, he who scored his first goal in the League champions.
It was strange to me, because I’m not used to it. And seeing the audience singing my name is something very powerful. »
Franck Haise, the Lensois manager, pointed out that it was give and take: “The public transcended us, but I think our players transcended it too. There is a symbiosis. It’s always with each other and when it’s like that, it makes for great evenings. » There should be another one at the end of the week. Coach and players already had the next match in mind, against Lille on Sunday, in the derby. If Lille supporters will be banned from the stadium, there is no doubt that the Lensois will cause the same “mess” in the ears of spectators. And that a new appointment will be made with the ENT. Because they are worth it.