The “President” is back. Six years after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Laurent Blanc returned to a French bench on Sunday, October 16, as coach of Olympique Lyonnais. The former defender, who arrived at the club a week ago to replace Dutchman Peter Bosz, had a mixed return to Ligue 1. Despite a more interesting level of play than in recent weeks, OL were beaten by Rennes (3 to 2). Alexandre Lacazette scored two goals, which were answered by two former Lyonnais, Martin Terrier (doubled) and Amine Gouiri.
In Lyon, Laurent Blanc took control of a club in great difficulty, despite a good start to the championship. Les Gones were in ninth place heading into Ligue 1 matchday 11, and are now in the midst of a six-game losing streak, punctuated by just five small goals. A situation very different from that experienced by Blanc when he arrived at PSG in 2013, bought two years earlier by Qatar Sports Investments.
In the capital, the former Manchester United player had continued to grow a coaching record started with the Girondins de Bordeaux. In total, Laurent Blanc has four French championship titles, four League Cups, two French Cups and five Champions Trophies. He also led Les Bleus to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 during his two seasons as France coach.
But, since his dismissal from PSG in 2016, Blanc had almost disappeared, making only a brief appearance in the world of football as coach of a Qatari club, Al Rayyan SC, between December 2020 and February 2022. Regularly announced in various European clubs, so it was on the OL bench that he returned to service. The President of Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas, had already thought of him in 2019, but the marriage had not taken place.
Change, but still no victory
Finally arrived in the Rhône, Laurent Blanc has already decided to change everything or almost in his new team. Exit the 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formations dear to his predecessor, Peter Bosz, the “President” has instead chosen a composition with three defenders (3-5-2), in which he has aligned two Entry of two former undesirables: midfielder Houssem Aouar (thirty minutes played this season) and defender Jérôme Boateng. The 34-year-old German world champion had not played a single meeting this season.
The new Lyon coach has also decided to rely on the experienced players of his team by leaving the captain’s armband to Alexandre Lacazette. The striker gave him back this confidence by opening the scoring with a header (23e), scoring his first goal in almost a month and a half. An achievement celebrated with a furious fist by Laurent Blanc, before he found his phlegm under his cap.
Also incumbent, Corentin Tolisso did not have time to make an impression on his coach, being forced out, injured, just before half-time, a few minutes after Martin Terrier equalized (38e). The French international (28 caps) left the field holding his left thigh.
Despite control of the ball (60% possession), one of the hallmarks of Laurent Blanc’s clubs, OL conceded a second Rennes goal signed Amine Gouiri on a powerful right-footed shot (47e). Alexandre Lacazette equalized well by scoring his sixth goal of the season (72e), but Martin Terrier also scored twice five minutes later to give victory to his team (77e). While OL still failed to win, Stade Rennes continued their crazy series, chaining an eleventh meeting without defeat.
“This decision was taken to give Olympique Lyonnais a very ambitious dimension for the future, both on the French and continental scene”, explained the club in the press release announcing the arrival of Laurent Blanc. For the continental aspect, we will have to wait to see, OL not participating in any European Cup this season. As far as the French scene is concerned, time is already running out for Laurent Blanc.