RC Lens was smiling again on Friday evening after a 2-1 victory against OL, but the evening left a controversy surrounding the club's former striker, Pierre Ménès, now at Lyon. Indeed, Ménès expressed his dissatisfaction on his YouTube channel, accusing some of the Lensois supporters of having targeted Loïs Openda, his former teammate, during the match.
Ménès first criticized the whistles that were sounded at Openda when he slipped on the pitch. According to him, the Bollaert public would have preferred to cheer the Belgian striker rather than belittle him. He also criticized supporters for not recognizing the performances of Openda, who scored numerous goals for the club during his spell. “Openda, who was booed by the Bollaert public, you know the one who constantly boasts saying that he is the best public in France and who is not even damned grateful for a player who scored tons of goals for them the season he was there and who also left by putting a big check in the club's coffers,” he thundered.
RC Lens supporters, however, recalled that Openda had been applauded during the warm-up, when the lineups were announced and when he left the field due to an injury. These facts, according to them, show that the reception was not entirely hostile. The former Lensois even received applause at these different moments, which, according to fans, qualifies the perception of a negative reception.
The controversy is part of an already tense climate between Ménès and some of the supporters. The consultant regularly criticizes the content offered by the Sang et Or since the start of the season, despite the ambitions displayed by the club. This time, the debate is less about the game and more about the attitude of the public. Ménès concluded on his YouTube channel in final response to his detractors: “The Lensois public does not like us to call into question its self-decreed status as the best public in France”.
While RC Lens continues to aim for first place in Ligue 1, the question of the relationship between supporters and former players remains a sensitive subject. The club will have to manage this situation carefully to preserve team spirit and cohesion between players, coaches and the fan base. The next meetings will offer an opportunity to measure whether the tension will ease or whether it will continue to influence the atmosphere around the Bollaert stadium.