Lyon have appointed Rudi Garcia as their new manager. The experienced Frenchman arrives on a deal until 2021 replacing Sylvinho. The former Lille, Roma, and Marseille manager brings his long-term assistant Claude Fichaux to the Stade de Lyon.
Rudi Garcia Appointed Lyon Manager
L’Olympique Lyonnais informe de la nomination de Rudi Garcia au poste d’entraîneur à compter de ce jour.https://t.co/gtPd3YCgYB
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) October 14, 2019
Rudi Garcia brings plenty of experience in French football, with his most recent position being at Lyon’s rivals Marseille. Jean Michel Aulas was impressed with Garcia’s presentation to him and the Lyon board over the weekend. Garcia has pipped Laurent Blanc and Jocelyn Gourvennec to the role with the latter seeing his initial talks with the club break down. Garcia has a huge job ahead with fans already extremely disappointed with his appointment.
The new manager inherits a Lyon side that sits 14th in Ligue 1, on a seven-match winless streak, 12 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. A tough challenge to turn around a squad low on confidence. However, it is a squad full of talent and potential which has massively underperformed thus far.
Garcia’s reign beings at home to Dijon on Saturday with favourable league fixtures against Metz and Toulouse to come. The pressure became too much for Sylvinho, but Garcia has shown he can handle the pressure following a turbulent spell at Marseille. Aulas has turned to an experienced head to get his side up and running.
A Huge Task Lies Ahead
Lyon’s season certainly needs igniting after a disappointing start, but the job facing Garcia is a huge one. Scoring is proving a major problem with Lyon drawing a blank in four of their nine league games. Nearly 50% of their goals scored this season came in their 6-0 win over Angers.
In addition, keeping goals out is also proving an issue: no clean sheets in seven league games, conceding nine goals. Seeing out matches is proving difficult, with Lyon regularly throwing leads away, dropping six points from winning positions. Garcia inherits a mammoth task to turn round an underperforming team expected to challenge Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1.
Furthermore, Lyon have struggled at home this season with more points notched on their travels. The Stade de Lyon needs to get his roar back, and while Garcia’s appointment is underwhelming for many, the fans are going to be crucial in Lyon turning their season around. Garcia needs the fans and must get them onside. A win over Dijon on Saturday would be the perfect start.
Rudi Garcia knows Ligue 1 well, and he will believe he can ignite their season. Confidence needs installing around the whole football club. Garcia has brought teams back from the brink before, and he will be determined to work his magic on Les Gones.
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