Olympique Lyonnais have named former Frosinone manager Fabio Grosso as their new head coach following the dismissal of Laurent Blanc.
The club which dominated Ligue 1 throughout the first decade of the 21st century has become a basket case in recent years, on and off the pitch. So now Lyon have turned to a former player in Grosso, and a recently successful coach, to start to haul the team back up to where the OL fans believe they belong.
He’s not the most popular figure in the whole of France; Grosso was a World Cup winner with Italy in the infamous 2006 final as the Azzurri beat Les Bleus when France legend Zinedine Zidane was sent off. Grosso even scored Italy’s winning penalty in a 5-3 shootout after the final had finished 1-1 and now, as a highly ambitious coach, he led Frosinone to promotion from Serie B as champions last season and promptly resigned his post to look for his next opportunity.
He could be a good fit for Lyon, the club he represented as an attacking left back between 2007 and 2009, making 78 appearances at a time when OL were in a much better place. Grosso has signed a two year contract at Lyon and he has work to do immediately, as his new team sits rock bottom after a disastrous run of Ligue 1 2023 results, three defeats and a draw from their first four league games. They have picked up a draw with Nice but lost to Montpelier, Strasbourg and, just before the international break, Lyon were thumped 4-1 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Grosso will watch the team at home to Le Havre on Sunday before taking charge before Lyon travel to Brest on September 23rd.
Can he bring back the glory years?
Olympique Lyonnais dominated Ligue 1 between 2001 and 2007 when they won seven consecutive league titles and they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2009/10, beating Real Madrid on the way.
Those dizzy heights are a long way away; but, with players like Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Nicolas Tagliafico and Rayan Cherki in the squad, OL are more than capable of climbing the table quickly.
Paris Saint-Germain suffer a first Defeat
The Ligue 1 2023 betting odds are backing Paris Saint-Germain for another league title, but they suffered a setback on Friday when they went 3-2 down to Nice. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and boss Luis Enrique was, understandably asked if he was worried about his team’s reliance on Mbappe, now that Neymar and Lionel Messi have left the club. Enrique was generous in his appraisal of Nice, saying: “We knew that the match would be complicated, particularly because of the level and ideas of Nice’s game. They were cooler than us. I want to congratulate Nice and its players for their performance and the quality of their football.”
Kind words indeed, but I bet he wasn’t so generous in his appraisal of his own team. With no Marquinhos in defence the Parisiens were open to attack and Nice took advantage. Mbappe is always a threat and his brace meant he has scored seven of his team’s goals this term but Enrique seems unconcerned, saying: “I really like the attacking line. Mbappe will always score, it’s in his DNA. And the others will score too.”
We’ll have to wait and see.
Dembele yet to make his mark
One player who is expected to shine at the Parc des Princes is France star Ousmane Dembele, but he is yet to register a goal or assist since his big money move from Barcelona. The 26 year old had five seasons at the Camp Nou and, last term, he linked up brilliantly with Robert Lewandowski as the Catalans raced to the title. So his refusal to extend his stay at Barcelona came as a surprise to fans in La Liga.
But, equally, Dembele has yet to prove he can help PSG break through the glass ceiling of the Champions League and the French press has been critical, judging his performances as mediocre over the opening for games. He can be an explosive player, able to play on either flank, beating a wingback with raw pace or intricate trickery and he can play the killer ball, swing in a pinpoint cross or cut in an unleash and unstoppable shot.
Paris fans are waiting to see how good Dembele can really be; but over in Spain, his old team is just getting on with business. Here at SBOTOP we’ve (well I’ve) been bigging up Barcelona who have started their current campaign pretty well, earning ten points from the first four games; and Xavi may have found a like for like replacement for Dembele in 16 year old Lamine Yamal who has starred on the right wing. It may be hard for PSG’s newest big signing to see a boy, ten years his junior, filling the gap he left at Barcelona. But now Dembele needs to move on, and show that Barca’s loss can be PSG’s gain.
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