The winter in Lorient, coming to an end, left us unsatisfied. Ligue 2 champion and promoted this spring, after the cessation of national competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the FCL ended badly. If the four defeats in his last five Championship matches had not compromised his accession, they had nevertheless challenged.
And naturally enriched the reflection of Christophe Pelissier on the constitution of his next workforce. “This empty passage may have corresponded to less energy inside the game”, admits the Breton coach, follower of a three-headed midfielder, who relied mainly on the following names: Laurent Abergel, Enzo Le Fée, Fabien Lemoine and Sylvain Marveaux.
Three recruits in the middle
They are still there today. And they are three new to have come to strengthen this sector. Quentin Boisgard (Toulouse), first of all, who can evolve on the left side (that of Yoane Wissa), even on the right – there was repairs against Strasbourg (3-1), last Sunday – but also in support of the attacker.
This is not the case with the other two recruits, midfielders. The young Englishman Trevoh Chalobah (loan from Chelsea), very athletic sentinel or runner, is able to win in central defense, even right side. Thomas Monconduit, the latest arrival, can also turn in the midfield, especially since he knows Pelissier perfectly, who coached him in Amiens for four years (2015-2019).
The Covid-19 is already involved
He now considers himself complete in the axis, knowing that the latter two are forfeited in Saint-Etienne. “We needed to double the positions and we are lucky to have intelligent people, with significant versatility”, he rejoices. Before recalling the hazards and the length of a season: “We will have, in the calendar, five weeks with three matches, or even more if some are postponed because of Covid-19, and the virus could also deprive us of certain players. “
This is already the case with Chalobah (asymptomatic), currently in her fortnight, while Monconduit is in the recovery phase, after several weeks of individual sessions, in the Somme. “We are in Ligue 1, there must be people in the same position”, he recalled on Friday during his presentation.
On the other hand, it will probably be without Julien Ponceau, great hope of the club, who has boycotted training since July 1, contesting the validity of his contract which officially runs until June 2022, and without the Cameroonian Franklin Wadja, author however of a “Very good preparation”, according to his trainer, but blocked by the competition. They are therefore likely to change environment in the weeks to come.
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