Lens - Lille OSC preview - Kombouare shaken by fear factor

Lens head coach Antoine Kombouare has admitted to feeling scared by the hatred that exists between fans of his club and their bitter local rivals Lille.

Kombouare gets his first taste of such ferocious derby passion when the two sides go head to head at the Stade de la Licorne on Sunday.

After helping Lens win promotion from Ligue Two at the end of his first season in charge, Kombouare has so far experienced a tough start to life in the top flight.

Lens go into the game on the back of a run which has seen them lose four of their last five league matches to leave them one place off the foot of the Ligue 1 table.

For the fans, the visit of Lille is a must-win clash, as Kombouare has already been warned.

"It's been a month the fans have asked me to win the derby, but the word does not speak to me because I'm not Lensois," said Kombouare.

"As a coach it is the first derby I'll experience, and if we have a game to win for our fans this season it is this one.

"But it's not the only game of the season. I would prefer to lose the derby and stay in Ligue 1."

As for the supporters' enmity towards one another, Kombouare added: "I understand the antagonism between Lille and Lens.

"We feel commitment, but what about the fans? There is sometimes a hatred between fans of Lens and Lille. Scary. I do not like it.

"This is not my image of soccer. We want to win for our supporters, but I do not want to see anybody dead.

"For us, we will be as motivated as any, and the guys will mentally be on it."

Lille are currently on a woeful run of 11 games without a win in all competitions stretching back to the end of September.

Coach Rene Girard, however, feels his side's 1-1 draw with reigning champions Paris St Germain on Wednesday was at least a step in the right direction, and a platform on which they can build.

"The boys needed to be rewarded for their efforts, even though we've had some difficult times," said Girard, who is likely to be without key midfielder Florent Balmont due to an ankle injury.

"This is a great team, with danger everywhere. We had a slump because of injuries and the accumulation of matches, which has led to doubts.

"But I know this group is better than 15th place (in the league). There will be better days."