LOU wants to regain all its bite against Toulouse

The seasons follow one another and, unfortunately, are similar for LOU. Last year, the Lyonnais had to fight at the back of the pack to avoid remaining. And finish at 11^e place, far from their ambitions. Rebelote this year. After 11 days, Lou is 13^e and dam operator. And, when hosting Stade Toulousain, they had to win at home to end a series of five consecutive defeats in the Top 14, their last victory dating back to October 13!

A dark series which had a consequence. Jono Gibbes, the consultant in charge, in particular, of defense (only the 13^e of the Top 14 currently…), has stopped the fees. Still living in New Zealand for personal reasons, he communicated by video – except for a few weeks – and the experience finally (and logically) ended. Especially since, despite a bloated staff of more than 20 members, there was no head coach. It was Fabien Gengenbacher, the sports director, who somehow combined both hats.

This will no longer be the case. Two weeks ago, Karim Ghezal, who arrived from Stade Français earlier in the season, signed until the end of the season to occupy this role. A little surprise because the sports director had threatened to resign in the off-season if Fabien Galthié's former assistant at the head of the French XV was recruited. The tone changed five months later. Fabien Gengenbacher assures that he approves of this reinforcement, demanded by Olivier Ginon and Yann Roubert, respectively owner and president of LOU.

Couilloud and Berdeu return

“The presentation of everyone's scope was clear, and that's why there is no subject on itassured the sports director interviewed by L’Équipe. On the operational side of the field, training and matches, it is the head coach, in this case Karim, who is in charge. I will keep control over the recruitment part, the disciplinary framework for the player group, the development of leadership among the players. Today, I have no fears about my positioning and my position in the club. (…) I know that we are full of ego issues everywhere, all the time, but I have no stake in that. I don’t see any fears, no distrust, I don’t want to worry about that…”

Two weeks later, the Lyonnais rediscovered the taste of victory in the Challenge Cup. Two successes against modest opponents (the Welsh from Cardiff and the Italians from Zebre) but it is good for morale before welcoming the Toulouse leader. Who arrives at the Gerland stadium certainly without many executives (Dupont, Ntamack, Ramos, Cros, Marchand, etc.), but who remains no less competitive given the depth of his squad.

Conversely, the LOU recovers its major hinge, its two key players, recovered from their injuries: its captain and serial scorer Baptiste Couilloud, best try scorer in the Top 14 last season (and again at the top of this ranking with already 8 flattened balls) and the promising opener Léo Berdeu, 2^e director of the championship behind… Thomas Ramos.

The vision that was shared and validated with the players was to return to a respected and feared club.

Karim Ghezal

Good news for Karim Ghezal who hammers home his leitmotif. “The vision that was shared and validated with the players is to find a club that is respected and feared. Players must realize that they can reach limits that they themselves do not know. We can go high, the club can go high, there is all the potential for that. They just have to convince themselves of it together.”

Message received if we are to believe second-row Killian Géraci, at a press conference. “It’s a special week because we’re going to meet the best team of the moment. It's such a special week because we need to get back to winning ways in the Top 14. Collectively, we're off to a good start to the season. And we had this slump of four matches in a month, which earned us our 13th place. We enter the second part of the season, it's up to us to show that we are a great team, by overturning these small details which prevented us from winning.

Confidence is back in words. Which ensure motivation and desire. “We are enthusiastic about the idea of ​​working with Karim (Ghezal) because we want to raise our heads. And above all not to show the same face as in recent months”assured Dylan Cretin, after the victory against Cardiff. But the new head coach warned: “We must have this desire to exist as a club. For this, it is only actions that count, not words…”