Football Season Guide

Few squads in France have changed as dramatically as Lille over the course of the summer. LOSC were prepared for a massive upheaval following the arrival of head coach Marcelo Bielsa, plus investment from new owner Gerard Lopez who is aiming to make them one of the leading sides in Ligue 1. Their project has echoes of Monaco about it, with their aim to buy prospects before moving them on at a profit but they have elected to delve into the rather risky South American market for their players. Bielsa’s experience in South America should help them out and they have certainly added players of some repute to their panel, with Thiago Maia and Luiz Araujo exciting additions in the midfield, along with the more sober holding player Thiago Mendes. Meanwhile, they have also picked up a couple of players from France, including Kevin Malcuit, a Bielsa-style attacking right-back, and the flair-packed Nicolas Pepe of Angers. Bielsa’s attacking style should suit Nicolas De Preville, their top scorer last season, but he will come under threat from Ezequiel Ponce, who has arrived on loan. At the back, meanwhile, LOSC have moved to sign Edgar Ié from Belenenses as well as Caju, who is loaned from Santos, completing the enclave of Brazilian players at the club. They have also snapped up several youngsters from the domestic market, with the idea being that they strengthen the club in the seasons to come. Lille have lost few of their key players, with the exception perhaps of right-back Sebastien Corchia, who has left for Sevilla a year before the end of his contract. Bielsa’s sides always play a whirlwind of attacking football, seeking to put flair first. Their defensive style will be a very high press and it is expected that they will always look to put their opponents under pressure. If things go right for them, it could go spectacularly but physically the players will be exerted greatly.