National News – Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has praised RC Lens and head coach Pierre Sage after admitting his side faced one of their most difficult challenges of the season in the French Ligue 1 campaign.

The PSG boss acknowledged that Lens pushed his team beyond expectations, describing the encounter as the toughest test since he arrived at the Paris club.

Speaking after the intense fixture, Luis Enrique said it was the first time during his tenure that an opposing side caused his squad so many problems on the pitch.

According to him, very few football fans or analysts expected Lens to rise to such a competitive level at the beginning of the season.

The Spanish tactician also showered praise on Pierre Sage for the impressive transformation and consistency shown by Lens throughout the campaign.

He noted that the coach deserves to win the Ligue 1 Best Coach award because of the remarkable work he has done with the squad despite facing stronger and more expensive opponents in the French top flight.

Football observers have described Lens as one of the surprise packages of the season, with the club displaying tactical discipline, resilience, and attacking quality against some of Europe’s biggest teams.

The recognition from a respected manager like Luis Enrique further highlights the growing reputation of the club and its technical crew in French football.

Supporters across France have continued to applaud the determination shown by Lens this season, while many analysts believe Pierre Sage has emerged as one of the brightest managerial figures in European football.

The comments from the PSG manager are expected to add momentum to discussions surrounding the Ligue 1 coaching awards and the club’s future ambitions.