Lens moved into the Coupe de France final with a 4-1 home win over Toulouse, and head coach Pierre Sage is already concentrating on lifting the trophy. Lens will meet either Strasbourg or Nice in the showpiece, aiming for the first Coupe de France title in club history.

Sage underlined that the season will feel incomplete without silverware, despite strong form in Ligue 1 and the cup. Lens are still in the league title race and have now reached their first Coupe de France final since 1998, adding weight to Sage’s focus on the coming month.

Florian Thauvin delivered a standout semi-final performance for Lens against Toulouse. Thauvin converted a penalty, set up Allan Saint-Maximin, and played important parts in goals for Adrien Thomasson and Saud Abdulhamid. The attacking display pushed Lens into a dominant position and ensured a straightforward route to the Coupe de France final.

The victory over Toulouse continued a highly productive season. Lens have now collected 24 wins in all competitions, surpassing most recent campaigns. In the 21st century, Lens have bettered that total only once, when they recorded 27 wins during the 2022-23 season, underlining the consistency behind this year’s Coupe de France final charge.

Sage’s ambition after the Toulouse win remained clear when speaking post-match. “The only feeling I have is that I want to win the final. That’s the only one,” said Sage in a delayed interview, given after Lens players and staff celebrated on the pitch with the home supporters.

Sage explained how the celebrations after beating Toulouse quickly shifted Lens thoughts back to work. “I have to admit that the fact that the celebrations were delayed a bit, that the crowd prevented us from doing our lap of honour, brought me back down to earth a little. I immediately thought about the next match, which is the most important to validate this run and properly prepare the birthday present (120 years) that this club deserves. Honestly, I don’t want to spoil the atmosphere; I have to admit that I’m already focused on the final. Because for me, qualifying for the final without winning the cup isn’t the reward that people deserve. So it’s good, the run is good, but once again, I want to go all the way; everyone here deserves it.”

Lens now look toward the Coupe de France final and the outcome of the Strasbourg versus Nice semi-final, while also managing the Ligue 1 schedule. With club celebrations planned for the 120th anniversary, Sage and the squad treat the upcoming final as a key chance to give supporters a memorable trophy.