Lens head coach Yannick Cahuzac reviewed his side’s 9-1 home loss against Como 1907 on Wednesday for Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League. Les Sang et Or sustained the joint-heaviest loss in the modern history of the European Cup. No team shipped nine goals at home in Europe’s premier club competition, until Cahuzac’s Lens did. The 41-year-old head coach, who replaced Dino Toppmöller in the dugout, took full responsibility for this hammering.

Cahuzac believes that Como’s two opening goals particularly hurt the hosts as they stemmed from set-pieces, an aspect of the game that Lens had practised and analyzed. “Our objective was to be very compact, to wait for them, and to get around them. By conceding two quick goals, we were forced to push forward more and we fell into their trap.“

The former Lens and Lorient defensive midfielder also lamented his own choices at half-time, when Lens were already trailing 3-0. “At halftime, I had a choice to make: shut up shop or try to bring on fresh legs to inject some energy. I thought that if we could score at Bollaert, with the atmosphere, we might be able to try something. Ultimately, ten minutes later, we were down 6-0.“

Cahuzac assesses that it was at this moment that he feels he lacked composure. Como would then score three extra goals to add to the infamy. “The hardest part is the way we lost. We don’t recognize ourselves in this performance, not the players, not me, not the club. It’s a collective failure, for which I take full responsibility.” Lens host Marseille on Sunday night before the international break.