LENS COACH ANTOINE KOMBOUARÉ: “WE’RE PLAYING WITH OUR MEANS, BUT WE HAVE TO IMPROVE”
Antoine Kombouaré has regained a sense of optimism after RC Lens’ important away victory over Toulouse this past weekend. With a squad filled with youthful energy—six players under the age of 21—the Lens coach praised his team’s fighting spirit and expressed hope for the future, albeit with cautious realism.
Speaking ahead of the Coupe de la Ligue clash against Créteil on Tuesday, Kombouaré highlighted the club’s financial limitations and their impact on the transfer window.
“Some players are there by default,” he admitted. “With money, we would have recruited heavily because we lost 10 players. But some kids have come into their own—it’s superb. They’ve shown that I can count on them.”
While proud of his young team’s performance, Kombouaré also issued a word of caution:
“Young players don’t ask questions and are capable of winning in a single match. But over time… if everyone is burying us with our financial worries and our young squad, we’re determined! We don’t pretend to be Barça. We’re playing with our means, but we have to improve.”
The coach also confirmed that Ludovic Baal would be unavailable for the Créteil match and that Valentin Belon, one of the club’s promising young goalkeepers, would again start between the posts.
Despite financial restraints, Kombouaré and his Lens side are clearly determined to make the most of their underdog status this season.
