When we visited him in Lens before the start of the season, Loïs Openda told us of his collective and individual objectives, both realistic and ambitious: to do as well as the previous season (7th, 4 points from a place European) and “shows 10 goals, then 15 and then 20 if possible”. Seven months later, his hopes are coming true. And better yet.
With 57 points in the standings, RC Lens is only five points behind its record from last year… But obviously with ten fewer games played. As for his personal counter, he already peaks at 14 achievements thanks to his double this Saturday evening against Angers (3-0). “VSnot bad for a first season in Ligue 1smiled the Red Devil at the microphone of Canal +.Afterwards, I must not stop on that, I must put in as much as possible and help the team win the most games.
“The way we play, we can think of something.”
Current Belgian top scorer in foreign championships (ahead of the 10 goals from Lukebakio and Batshuayi), Loïs Openda has once again made his speed, his technique and his finishing speak, a week after scoring a historic hat-trick in Clermont. “I find the form at the best moment. I was in a complicated period before my three goals last week. I think it’s my mentality and the work that pays off. It’s up to me to continue.”
Loïs Openda in the history of Ligue 1: “I’m going to put this ball on a nice cupboard at home”
And inevitably, it is the whole Lens club that benefits. Currently 6 points ahead of fourth place Monaco, the top 3 is even starting to take shape. “We always try to aim for the highest”motivates the former Bruges player. “We’ll see what happens at the end of the season, but given how we play, we can think of something.”
In its history, RC Lens has only participated in the Champions League twice (in 1999 and 2003). The last presence on the European scene dates back to the 2006-2007 season, when the Europa League was still called the UEFA Cup. “We want to bring the club back to the European Cuplaunched coach Franck Haise at a press conference. We have been in the top 5 since the start of the season, we have only four defeats in 40 games. We have always been ambitious, but rather than shouting it from the rooftops, what matters is to be ambitious in the work.”