20 August 2023 , 07:09
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Laurent Blanc has told Lyon they need to sack him if they want to improve their fortunes - just two games into the season.
The Ligue 1 outfit were hammered 4-1 at home by Montpellier which comes after they also lost on the opening weekend at Strasbourg. The former Manchester United player, who has enjoyed notable success in his homeland, was appointed by Lyon in October last year.
He's won just under half of the games he's been in charge for, but has opened the door for the hierarchy to axe him after a slow start to the campaign. Blanc was quizzed about what the club could change to change their form and he responded: "Change the manager".
The 57-year-old has won the Ligue 1 title on four occasions, most impressively with an unfancied Bordeaux side in 2009 before winning three on the bounce at PSG. The tactician has also held the reigns with Les Blues, whom he led to the last eight at Euro 2012.
Blanc was hired before the club was sold on and the new American owners are considering their options with L'Equipe reporting that former Wolves boss Bruno Lage is being lined up as a replacement should their poor form continue with plenty of change already taking place behind the scenes.
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Last term Blanc led Lyon to a seventh place finish and came up against his former club in a pre-season friendly as the French side took on the Red Devils at Murrayfield in the Scottish capital. United secured a narrow 1-0 success back in July with Blanc reflecting fondly on his time in England.
He said: "I played with many very, very great players. I can't name them all because there are so many. Beckham, Giggs, [Paul] Scholes, Roy Keane, Gary and Phil Neville... [Also] my French teammates, because there were quite a few of us back then. Mikael Silvestre, Fabien Barthez. In short, I'd say I experienced a very, very high level in Manchester."
Blanc moved to Manchester in the latter part of his career, arriving as a replacement for Jaap Stam in the early 2000s. He'd spent his career playing in France and Spain for major outfits like Barcelona, Inter Milan and Marseille whilst on the international stage he'd enjoyed World Cup and Euros success.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson Blanc helped United claim the Premier League title in 2003 before calling time on his career and pursuing his coaching ambitions.