Ligue 1 2014-2015/Preview
It’s hard to look past moneybags Monaco and PSG, but a high turnaround of coaches means the French league will boast lots of new faces in 2014-15
txt by FFT UK
Star signings
PSG’s mega £40m deal to prise Brazil centre-back David Luiz from Chelsea is the biggest deal of the summer so far. That figure alone represents the entire annual budget of several Ligue 1 clubs, neatly highlighting just how far ahead of the pack PSG and fellow money-men Monaco are. Expect Monaco to spend big again with Champions League football available – although owner Dmitry Rybolovlev’s reported £2.6bn divorce settlement could affect the club.
PSG’s mega £40m deal to prise Brazil centre-back David Luiz from Chelsea is the biggest deal of the summer so far. That figure alone represents the entire annual budget of several Ligue 1 clubs, neatly highlighting just how far ahead of the pack PSG and fellow money-men Monaco are. Expect Monaco to spend big again with Champions League football available – although owner Dmitry Rybolovlev’s reported £2.6bn divorce settlement could affect the club.
The race for the title
While romantics would love to see Marcelo Bielsa’s Marseille, the best-supported club in the land, take on the big boys, realistically it’s hard to see past another two-horse race, with Zlatan & Co. favourites. Led by former Sporting boss Leonardo Jardim, Monaco should provide a sterner test this time around. There was an 18-point gap between PSG and third-placed Lille last season. Considering the chasing pack’s inferior financial means, bridging that seems nigh-on impossible.
Battling at the bottom
Though last season’s trio performed beyond expectations for promoted teams – Nantes surviving, Monaco finishing second, Guingamp winning the Coupe de France – this season’s new arrivals won’t have it so easy. Metz and Caen have top-level pedigree but could struggle, though Caen have brought in experienced players, and Lens’ financial troubles mean that unless their appeal is successful, they won’t even be allowed into Ligue 1. Taking their place would be a heavily depleted Sochaux, ready to battle in vain against relegation. Elsewhere Evian could toil, while the departure of Christian Gourcuff and Hubert Fournier at Lorient and Reims could make them surprise candidates to get sucked in. European football at Guingamp could be a poisoned chalice, also.
Though last season’s trio performed beyond expectations for promoted teams – Nantes surviving, Monaco finishing second, Guingamp winning the Coupe de France – this season’s new arrivals won’t have it so easy. Metz and Caen have top-level pedigree but could struggle, though Caen have brought in experienced players, and Lens’ financial troubles mean that unless their appeal is successful, they won’t even be allowed into Ligue 1. Taking their place would be a heavily depleted Sochaux, ready to battle in vain against relegation. Elsewhere Evian could toil, while the departure of Christian Gourcuff and Hubert Fournier at Lorient and Reims could make them surprise candidates to get sucked in. European football at Guingamp could be a poisoned chalice, also.
The gaffers
More than a quarter of the teams in Ligue 1 are under new management. Former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol is in at Bordeaux, Claude Makelele dips his toe in managerial waters for the first time at Bastia, Fournier returns to Lyon to replace Remi Garde after an impressive spell at Reims, Jardim takes over from Claudio Ranieri at Monaco…and then there’s Bielsa, whose high-energy attacking style should be fascinating to witness in a league tactically conservative by nature.
More than a quarter of the teams in Ligue 1 are under new management. Former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol is in at Bordeaux, Claude Makelele dips his toe in managerial waters for the first time at Bastia, Fournier returns to Lyon to replace Remi Garde after an impressive spell at Reims, Jardim takes over from Claudio Ranieri at Monaco…and then there’s Bielsa, whose high-energy attacking style should be fascinating to witness in a league tactically conservative by nature.
Look out for…
Toulouse defender Serge Aurier retweeting selfies taken by the many aesthetically-pleasing ladies he follows. The scamp.
Toulouse defender Serge Aurier retweeting selfies taken by the many aesthetically-pleasing ladies he follows. The scamp.
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