Will the Girondins de Bordeaux recover? This Monday morning, many are asking after the Marine et Blanc’s new home defeat against Troyes (0-2), a direct competitor in the race to maintain. This 13th setback of the season in Ligue 1 will hurt the head of an entire club. You should have seen the Bordeaux players come out one by one groggy from the bays of the Matmut Atlantique on Sunday a few minutes after the final whistle. K.-O. standing like a whole stadium. Even the most loyal supporters of the South Turn ended up being silent for the first time this season.
There was also finally a bit of anger against this team unworthy of their relentless encouragement since the start of the season. One of the leaders Ultramarines, the largest group of supporters, had to dissuade some from entering the lawn or throwing projectiles at the end of the match. A moment of lucidity when the damage had already been done for a long time. Always dead last in Ligue 1, the Girondins are now two points behind the play-off and three on the first non-relegation player 11 days from the end of the season. If mathematically nothing is of course done, this team today has a good head of future relegated.
A level of play unworthy of L1
It was the tree that hid the forest. Failing to shine by the results, the Bordelais did it intermittently by the game this season. But against Troyes, there was simply nothing. In Clermont, a week ago, it had already not been very glorious. This Sunday, the Girondins hit rock bottom in the first half with an apocalyptic technical level illustrated by Oudin and Adli. “There was very little accuracy. Our possession has been barren. We could have played for hours without scoring I think. The players really need to raise their technical level and their requirements on this, ”recognized David Guion. Starting with succeeding in the basic sequence of any footballer, control-pass.
And what about defense. While David Guion seemed to have found some solutions, she plunged again against the Trojans. The latter could have returned to half-time with two or three goals in advance, there would not have been much to complain about. Same if Marcelo had been excluded at the very start of the match. As so often this season, the Bordeaux defense displayed a catastrophic level, like the performances of its two pistons, Mensah and Pembélé, authors of an incalculable number of lost balls. 24 for the second, match record. In the end, the Marine et Blancs continue to set records (nine penalties conceded this season, 65 goals conceded, no clean sheets). Race results, if in addition to taking goal on goal, the Girondins are no longer able to play and score, the mission looks impossible!
The signs of fate that do not deceive
Beyond the deep shortcomings of this Bordeaux team today, there is also the factor of luck or rather bad luck which is chasing the Girondins this season. Those little details that make you say they won’t escape relegation. Against Troyes, the first penalty scored against his side by Gaëtan Poussin is one. The Bordeaux goalkeeper had however started on the right side, as on the second, but the ball finally escaped him to finish a few centimeters behind the line. In the same style, he recalls this completely gag goal conceded two weeks ago against Monaco.
In this context, the Girondins do not forget arbitration either. And it’s true that it has rarely worked in their favor since the start of the season. Estac’s first penalty is indeed very questionable while Ui-Jo Hwang could perhaps have benefited from one for the Girondins. “The players were very frustrated with the refereeing [sept cartons jaunes]. These are matches where, psychologically, the refereeing body must take into consideration the aspect of the match. The referee missed his game but it happens. After that it becomes recurrent with Bordeaux and it starts to do a lot, ”recalled David Guion while Admar Lopes, the technical director of the club, attacked Ruddy Buquet at the end of the match.
No more leverage
This is perhaps the most worrying thing for the people of Bordeaux. Today there is no longer any leverage for management after having cleaned up the locker room and then changed coaches. What more can Gérard Lopez do except try to shake up his players? This Sunday, he notably spoke at length with his captain, Josuha Guilavogui, after the meeting. Admar Lopes exchanged with other players. The midfielder summarizes the current situation at the microphone of Prime Video:
It’s starting to get complicated. We can talk, say nice things to each other, charm each other, but in the end when there is no victory, it’s just words. When you make a match like that, it’s better to shut your mouth and go home. »
However, we will have to find solutions for David Guion while the Girondins are preparing to move to Paris, Lyon and Lille. What tough. “It’s a big disappointment for everyone but I came here to keep the club going. There are 33 points left. I believe in it, ”concluded the former Stade de Reims coach. He’s not the only one yet. But since Sunday, there are fewer and fewer.