Paris (AFP)
A new challenge for Christophe Galtier, a surprise appointment to assume for Jocelyn Gourvennec and ambitious foreign coaches on several benches, from Mauricio Pochettino to Jorge Sampaoli: the new Ligue 1 season promises great clashes on the chalkboard.
- Galtier, Nice ambition -
OGC Nice, 54 years old
From the championship won by Lille on May 23, the question of the future of coach Christophe Galtier arose.
In the days that followed, the native of Marseille made it clear that his future would no longer be written in the North.
After long negotiations, his choice fell on OGC Nice and the ambitious Ineos project, owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
As for the Gym, we hope that "Galette" will be able to repeat the performance achieved with Lille, which he led to the title in less than four years.
With hoped-for recruits and others already arrived at the Aiglons, such as Melvin Bard or Mario Lemina, but also with the return of boss Dante in central defense and booming talents like Gouiri, Atal or Boudaoui, Galtier could be based on the same model as that adopted by the Mastiffs ... with the same success?
- Gourvennec, surprise return -
Lille OSC, 49 years old
To replace Galtier at the head of the reigning French champion team, the choice surprised all the followers of Ligue 1 and worried the Lille supporters: Jocelyn Gourvennec, without a club for two years and with at most limited experience. high level.
Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec during the Champions Trophy against PSG in Tel Aviv, August 1, 2021 EMMANUEL DUNAND AFP / Archives
The challenge is great for the Breton, whose main feat is to have won the Coupe de France 2014 and then to have led Guingamp to the round of 16 of the Europa League in 2015.
Gourvennec nevertheless relies on "continuity" with the compact and collective game project carried by his predecessor, despite a transfer window which should continue to stir, in both directions, by August 31.
In any case, the adventure started well with a coronation on Sunday during the Champions Trophy against the ogre Paris SG (1-0), the first in the history of Losc.
- Bosz, Dutch method -
Olympique Lyonnais, 57 years old
The main mission of Rudi Garcia's successor is to regain the Champions League, an objective missed last season.
Lyon coach Peter Bosz during an interview with AF in Décines-Charpieu, August 2, 2021 JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP
The former Ajax coach arrives at OL after two mixed experiences in Germany, first at Borussia Dortmund and then at Bayer Leverkusen.
The site is sizeable for Bosz, who will have to reconstruct an orphan attack by his compatriot Memphis Depay, who left for FC Barcelona.
"I need time", warned the Dutch technician Monday in an interview with AFP, refusing to set a "specific objective", besides that of playing in "an attractive and domineering manner".
- Sampaoli, Marseille renewal -
Olympique de Marseille, 61 years old
On the eve of his first full season at OM, the Argentine coach was granted the transfer window.
The transfer market, led by the new president Pablo Longoria, has everything to satisfy Jorge Sampaoli, arrived on the Marseille bench in February and carrying an intense and demanding game project.
Argentine Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli during his team's friendly match on the SC Braga pitch, July 21, 2021 MIGUEL RIOPA AFP / Archives
The revival observed since his arrival, punctuated by a qualification for the Europa League, is maintained by the arrivals of players who seem to correspond to the expectations of the former coach of the Albiceleste: Guendouzi, Konrad de la Fuente, Gerson, Luan Peres , Cengiz Ünder ...
It remains to succeed in amalgamating with the executives already in place, such as captain Steve Mandanda and playmaker Dimitri Payet and to manage the sequence of meetings between L1 and C3 this fall.
- Pochettino, Parisian armada -
Paris SG, 49 years old
A studious summer, dream reinforcements (Ramos, Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Hakimi), and a recent extension until 2023, a sign of the confidence of the PSG leaders: on paper, the first full season of PSG version Pochettino s' announcement under the best auspices.
Argentinian PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino gives instructions to his players against Augsburg in Orleans, July 21, 2021 GUILLAUME SOUVANT AFP / Archives
But the Argentine no longer has much room for error, having given up the title at Losc last season (and the Champions Trophy on Sunday), in addition to a frustrating elimination in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City .
With a workforce tailored to finally conquer Europe, the pressure will be strong on "Pocket", arrived in January on the bench of PSG.
Among the files on his desk, the Argentine will have to manage the integration of former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, the competition between goalkeepers Keylor Navas and Gianluigi Donnarumma, or the use of stars Neymar and Verratti.
While waiting to know if he can count on Kylian Mbappé, at the end of his contract in 2022 but whom he would like to keep.
© 2021 AFP