Lens coach Pierre Sage called on his players to savour the final weeks of a season which could bring a Ligue 1 title for the first time since 1998, and the club's first Coupe de France trophy.
Lens host Toulouse on Friday night at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in a Ligue 1 clash.
Victory for Sage's men will take them to within a point of Ligue 1 pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who entertain Lyon on Sunday night at the Parc des Princes.
Lens play Toulouse again on Tuesday night in the semifinal of the Coupe de France. On 24 April, they play at Brest in Ligue 1.
"We have a group that isn’t very experienced in winning," said Sage.
"There’s a difference between competitors and champions. Right now, we’re on the boundary between the two. I hope we’ll quickly adopt the habits needed to become champions rather than just competitors."
Knives out for France skipper Mbappé as Madrid face Bayern in Champions League
Serial winners
PSG possess the habits and know-how Sage says he wants for his team.
They won six trophies in 2025: the French Super Cup, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.
Last Tuesday, in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Liverpool, PSG displayed the grit and guile of serial winners.
They absorbed sustained pressure from Liverpool in the first 20 minutes of the second half at Anfield before Ousmane Dembélé struck twice to give PSG a 2-0 win and a place in the semifinals for the third season on the trot.
PSG will take on Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semis on 28 April.
Before then, there are also games in Ligue 1 against Nantes on on 22 April and Angers on 25 April, as PSG continue their quest for a fifth consecutive top-flight title and a record-extending 14th overall, as well as back-to-back Champions League crowns.
Lens are hoping to join PSG in the Champions League.
"The games against Toulouse are crucial for the rest of our season," said Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser.
"We’re heading into the final stretch and we’ll see if we’ve got what it takes," added the 21-year-old Frenchman.
"We want to reward ourselves with the title or at least securing a place in the Champions League as soon as possible. We also want to win the Coupe de France and make history at this magnificent club."
