Bordeaux vs Lens preview - Kombouare: Sunday not make-or-break

Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Lens coach Antoine Kombouare will not be writing off his team's Ligue 1 survival prospects even if they lose Sunday's match at Bordeaux.

A 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of Marseille in their previous game - which took Racing's league record to one win in their last 11 - left Kombouare's men nine points adrift of safety in 19th place with eight fixtures to go.

But, asked if the Bordeaux contest presented Lens with their last chance this season, Komboaure said at his pre-match press conference: "Not at all. Mathematically, it is still to play for.

"Even if we lose on Sunday, things will not be completed. I would never argue that - otherwise, we might as well all go right away on holiday with me abandoning my job!

"I will not talk about our percentage chance of staying in Ligue 1 - what interests me is making the best possible choices so we can win at Bordeaux."

Kombouare feels it was unfortunate the international break deprived his group of the chance to make a swift reaction to the Marseille loss.

And he is now keen to see one against Europe-chasing Bordeaux, who were beaten themselves in their last game, 2-1 at Toulouse.

"I would have liked to play quickly after that defeat," Komboaure said.

"But in any case, there is among my players a desire to react. We want to redeem ourselves against a team who themselves are frustrated after their defeat.

"I heard their coach Willy Sagnol talk about finals. It will be one for us also."

Lens defender Ahmed Kantari has echoed Komboaure's words about the eagerness in the squad to respond after their last outing.

Kantari believes there are positives that can be taken from the performance in the heavy defeat on March 22 but has no doubt it is vital he and his team-mates, now they have the opportunity to do so, bounce back from it with victory this weekend.

The 29-year-old Morocco international said: "We should not feel weaker after the Marseille defeat - we had a very good first period (the score was 0-0 at half-time) which proves we are able to cause problems.

"For 45 minutes, we competed against Marseille and that should be remembered. But after that, we were not able to be consistent.

"After such a major setback, we would have all wanted to play again quickly to move on in our heads - the second half remains in the craw because I think we had done good things before the break.

"Now, we must react.

"We're competitors. As soon as you enter the field, it is to win the game. We will approach this meeting with Bordeaux in this state of mind."