Following Olympique Lyonnais’ 4-1 defeat at home against Montpellier HSC on Saturday, Laurent Blanc was asked what had to be changed to reverse the situation, his response – the manager.
Blanc joked about his joke being under threat before the season even started. Whilst those remarks were in jest, aimed at a L’Équipe journalist, whose publication had cast doubt over Blanc’s position, his comments on Prime Video Sport were more serious and sounded of resignation. Asked what had to be changed, Blanc replied, “You have to change the manager.”
He was then asked if he wanted to leave Lyon, to which he responded, “No, but you’re asking me what has to be done, and I’m saying you might have to change the manager.”
Lyon, under the surveillance of French football’s watchdog the DNCG, have struggled to recruit during the transfer window. Even the significant and lucrative departure of Castello Lukeba has done little to give the John Textor-owned side wiggle room in the market.
With a difficult summer in the window and a difficult pre-season on the pitch, Lyon have lost both of their first two Ligue 1 games. Blanc’s side created chances but struggled to convert them during a defeat at RC Strasbourg Alsace on the opening matchday, but Les Gones were outplayed at home against Montpellier.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
