|
By Patrick Vignal PARIS, July 31 - By signing Johan Micoud,
Girondins Bordeaux have added a midfield artist to the side who
finished Ligue 1 runners-up last season and are now dreaming of
ending Olympique Lyon's domination of French soccer. "We should not be afraid of Lyon," Micoud, back in France
after two seasons at Parma in Italy followed by four in Germany
with Werder Bremen, told reporters before the new season kicks
off next weekend. "It's true that they are really strong but it's a long
season and a lot can happen," added the playmaker, who
originally played for Bordeaux from 1996 to 2000, helping them
win the French title in 1999. Under the guidance of new Brazilian coach Ricardo, a
stalwart defender for Paris St Germain in his playing days,
Bordeaux came second to Lyon last term, ending the season with
the tightest defence in the league with just 25 goals conceded
from 38 games. If anybody can give Lyon a hard time, it should be the club
from the wine capital. Lyon, however, might prove too strong for the rest of the
field again in their chase for a sixth consecutive title. "It's getting more difficult every year because our
opponents are getting organised and we have to remain cautious,
which doesn't mean we are not ambitious," said Lyon president
Jean-Michel Aulas. Lyon could not stop Ghana midfielder Michael Essien from
moving to Chelsea before last season but this time they have
managed to keep all their top players, notably goalkeeper
Gregory Coupet, Mali's holding midfielder Mahamadou Diarra and
Brazilian set piece expert Juninho. Bordeaux excepted, Lyon's traditional rivals do not look
significantly stronger on paper and neither Paris St Germain nor
Olympique Marseille appear like serious title contenders. CAREFUL PSG PSG, who saved their previous season by beating arch-rivals
Olympique Marseille in the French Cup final to win a ticket to
the UEFA Cup, were careful when assessing their goals. "When you're PSG, you can't be happy with just staying up,"
new president Alain Cayzac said when asked about his ambitions. The capital club's new owners made no spectacular signing
but at least managed to keep their captain, prolific Portugal
striker Pauleta, who had been approached by Lyon. Marseille have not won a title since their 1993 Champions
League triumph and their fans fear another furstrating season in
the absence of high-profile newcomers. Coach Jean Fernandez quit at the end of last season and was
replaced by former assistant Albert Emon, now fighting to keep
Franck Ribery. The revelation of last season and a prominent member of the
Fance team who reached the World Cup final, the gifted France
midfielder is being courted by Lyon and several major European
clubs. Marseille will be reunited in the top flight with
Valenciennes, 13 years after both clubs were engulfed in
France's biggest match-fixing scandal. Valenciennes players were bribed to lose a league game in
1993, days before Marseille were due to play AC Milan in the
Champions League final. Also back in Ligue 1 are Sedan and Lorient. Like
Valenciennes, they have no ambition other than to stay up.
|
