c’est dans la tête, mais à quel point ?
The real problem is not new to Bordeaux. Paulo Sousa had spoken about it on several occasions, Jean-Louis Gasset had often lamented that “the slightest grain of sand” was enough to disrupt all…
The real problem is not new to Bordeaux. Paulo Sousa had spoken about it several times, Jean-Louis Gasset had often lamented that “the slightest grain of sand” was enough to disrupt the whole machine. The coaches pass, the workforce leads, the change of owner, but this observation is immutable. The nuance, however, is that Gérard Lopez refutes a lack of quality in his group, which he believes would be better equipped to play the first half of the table (the objective announced last summer) than maintenance.
Communication
There is therefore a part of communication in this positioning which also aims to defend the relevance of the project and its managers. In the starting XI last weekend, seven players
were recruited by technical director Admar Lopes. His boss had announced “the transfer window, we know how to do it”, just after the takeover of the club. It is for the moment a failure, while waiting to see the final classification and the product of possible sales next summer.
If the mental weakness of this group is irrefutable, the explanation seems short, really, given the observation of this last place after 27 days and these 65 goals conceded. “There is still a real level problem,” said former Girondin defender Michel Le Blayo. When you take X times the same but, we cannot ignore the level. The recruits are no better than before. Yes, the players are responsible, but so are those who brought in. »
This goes for both their qualities as footballers and their mental abilities. As such, the arrival of Fransergio is a doubly missed appointment, since the Brazilian was expected as much in the offensive contribution in the middle as in character and leadership.
“Let him prove it”
“It is logical to say that the players do not give 100% of their potential given the context, a first coach (Vladimir Petkovic) with whom things are not going very well, underlines the former side François Grenet. But a good player remains a good player, even if he may have periods of doubt. There is no brilliant player in this team. If there was so much talent, we would have a few more points. »
If the arrivals of Josuha Guilavogui and Anel Ahmedhodzic in January have objectively raised the level and the intrinsic value of the team, the theory according to which the Bordeaux workforce is more armed than those of its competitors leads a lead in the wing. “We keep saying that it will be fine because we are going to receive these teams, and in the end we draw at Clermont and we lose against Troyes. After so many days, if these clubs are ahead of us, there is a reason, ”said Le Blayo. “This squad is better than 20th? Let him prove it on the field. From what I observe, I am not convinced. In terms of footballing qualities, Lorient and the others are no less well equipped than us,” adds Grenet.
Moreover, during his press conference after the defeat against Troyes (0-2) on Sunday March 6, David Guion above all noted the poor technical level of his players, from whom he expects “more demanding”. As for physical preparation, subject again swept aside by Gérard Lopez, it would bear fruit for three games with improving data, they say at Haillan, even if it is not obvious.
Questionnaires
In any case, it was decided to act on the heads. This week, the coach conducted numerous individual interviews and filled in written questionnaires where the player had to discuss his technical profile, his character and his vision of the club. Thursday, he also gathered the whole group in the locker room, door closed, for players to speak among themselves. Guilavogui, Marcelo, but also Jimmy Briand and Benoît Costil, the leaders, were rewarded for insisting on rigor in training with their teammates.
After a Champions League evening in a hotel on Wednesday and the establishment of a compulsory lunch every day at 12:45 p.m. at the Château, the international break at the end of the month should be the occasion for a cohesion operation. The program has not yet been decided, but internally, we are talking about “something quite extreme”.
“The mind seems important to me, justified David Guion on Friday. Players need to be more successful in freeing themselves, especially technically. They have quality. This week, we worked on large spaces so that there is more success and that they obtain a little more esteem. “On paper, the Parc des Princes is not the ideal place to regain confidence. But it is also the perfect place to discover consistency.
Gregersen, Marcelo, Ahmedhodzic, Pembélé, Onana, Guilavogui, Mensah.