PSG win the points – and all but secure the title – but Lens have the best tunes

PSG edged closer to the Ligue 1 title with a 3-1 win over Lens, but there is still a disconnect between their players and fans

Lens goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca and former captain Yannick Cahuzac introduced the dressing room to the victory chant that has become their trademark: “On les a chicotés (We’ve rattled them).”

The Corsican pair joined Lens a few years ago when they were still in Ligue 2. They led the team’s post-match celebrations during the pandemic-shortened campaign, when the club won promotion to the top flight. The chant caught on around the Stade Bollaert once fans were back in the stands and it is now sung in unison between players and fans after every home win – an increasingly regular occurrence as the team has climbed up the Ligue 1 standings.

A chant that was sung by the DR Congo squad when they won the African Nations Championship in 2016, and by Sochaux players in 2017, is now unmistakably part of the Lens matchday ritual. On Saturday night, though, it was PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe – in crutches, as he continues to recover from an achilles injury – who took to the microphone to offer the Parc des Princes a rendition of “On les a chicotés”.

The league leaders had beaten Lens 3-1, going seven points clear with just seven fixtures remaining, and all but winning their record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title. The top-of-the-table clash was all but over by half-time. Lens midfielder Salis Abdul Samed was sent off after 20 minutes for a reckless, studs-up challenge on Achraf Hakimi. PSG capitalised quickly, scoring three goals before the interval. Kylian Mbappé’s backheel assist for Lionel Messi’s tight-angle finish showcased what a PSG side is capable of when in full flow – an all too rare sight of late, with the team losing eight in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Nevertheless, the visitors dusted themselves off in the second half. Wary of leaving vast swathes of the pitch at the mercy of one of the league’s most feared counter-attacking teams, PSG opted against pushing on for more goals. Belgian striker Loïs Openda tormented Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos with his deep runs – as he had done when the teams met on New Year’s Day – and Przemyslaw Frankowski pulled one back from the penalty spot on the hour mark. Lens’ efforts, although ultimately in vain, showed that they were far from rattled.

Kimpembe’s taunt after the game was a valiant attempt at handing the occasion its due grandeur, much to the delight of the home fans. But his bravado was somewhat dampened when only a handful of his teammates joined him to clap the Parc des Princes faithful, let alone sing along. The stadium does not lack in atmosphere, but the fervour from the stands has rarely been reciprocated by those on the pitch in the last few seasons. This apparent disconnect is symptomatic of the club’s lack of clear direction and, by extension, its struggle to formulate a coherent vision that fans and players alike can trust and get behind.

A growing sense of ambivalence among some fans is not necessarily because winning the league has become a formality, or that it is considered the bare minimum in a club filled to the brim with star names. Their concern, instead, is that the titles hide long-standing structural issues that prevent the club from realising its potential on the continental stage, as epitomised by a scattergun transfer policy and a perceived detachment on the part of the players.

The team’s poor spell of form led to grievances between fans and players rising to the surface – from the booing of Lionel Messi, to a rift with captain Marquinhos after the Brazilian reportedly told the team to go straight to the changing rooms after a defeat to Monaco in February. While it’s understandable that passions would run high after defeats, the apathy after wins is puzzling. If fans are not able to connect with the squad after a title-deciding victory, when will it ever happen?

Some players have, to their credit, looked to bridge that rift, but they have not fully appeased the disgruntled supporters. This was not the first time Kimpembe had commanded the megaphone at the end of a game this season, and Mbappé met with an ultras group recently to celebrate their 15th anniversary.

The forward, who became their all-time top scorer in Ligue 1 on Saturday, is very aware of his central role at the club, despite his insistence that “it’s not Kylian Saint-Germain”. The Paris-born France captain could be the only member of the team’s star trifecta left by August, and he knows that getting the fans onside will only help his cause as his stature and influence at the club grows.

PSG will rebuild again this summer, which will test Luís Campos’ ability to build a coherent squad. The former Monaco and Lille director will look to make amends after an unsuccessful first year, while Christophe Galtier appears unlikely to stay past the end of the season. The club should try to build holistically and sell a vision that fans can believe in – one where every move the club makes meaningfully contributes to its stated aim of winning the Champions League. Building a meaningful rapport with fans would help create an environment where that becomes possible.

As for Lens, even if they end up missing out on second place, the plucky underdogs are patently on an upward trajectory. Despite personnel changes on and off the pitch, the club has stuck to a clear roadmap over several seasons and everyone has bought into the plan. The “On les a chicotés” chant encapsulates the unity between their players and supporters. The whole squad joins in, with even head coach Franck Haise getting involved following the win over PSG on New Year’s Day.

In an atmosphere of constant division between fans, players and management, that same chant rang somewhat hollow inside the Parc des Princes.