Ligue 1 special: Rudi Garcia should make Eden Hazard stay for the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 season
Last season, LOSC Lille put an end to a 54-year wait for a Ligue 1 Championnat. Along with a Championnat came a domestic double that took almost 67 years in making.
Rudi Garcia has done extremely well since his arrival at the Stade Metropole in 2008. Though the Frenchman was surprisingly sacked after his first season with Les Dogues, he was reinstated two weeks later in a decision that has now changed the club’s history.
The former Le Mans coach probably made the signing of last season when he brought the once not-so-prolific http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Moussa-Sow-c26939 to the club from Stade Rennais. Before his arrival, the Senegalese had scored only 12 goals in 82 league games for Rennais.
However, it all changed as the 25-year-old scored 25 goals in 36 league outings and became the topscorer of the league.
On the other hand, Cote d’Ivoire International Gervinho excelled and was a live wire down both flanks throughout the season. Eden Hazard matured as the season progressed and being nominated the Player of the Season at the UNFP award was well-deserved for a player who is just 20-years-old.
Adil Rami was like a rock for the Lille rearguard throughout the campaign while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ludovic-Obraniak-c22623 and Yohan Cabaye kept things calm in the middle of the park.
However, such a successful season might prove to be a curse for Rudi Garcia as the 47-year-old risks losing a few of the players who played such a crucial part in Lille’s dream campaign. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 and Newcastle United respectively.
Eden Hazard – an asset for Les Dogues
The 20-year-old midfielder is one of Ligue 1’s most sought-after players. Following his mesmeric performances for Les Dogues in the 2010/2011 Ligue 1 season, Hazard has caught the eye of several top European clubs and has been linked with a move away from LOSC.
A few weeks back, Hazard was linked with a big-money move to fellow Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester United are already keeping tabs on the highly-rated midfielder which means that Lille boss Rudi Garcia would have a pretty hard time keeping the in-demand youngster at the Stade Velodrome.
Rudi Garcia is looking to sign a few players ahead of the start of the next season as Les Dogues would be competing in the UEFA Champions League as well. However, Garcia must make sure that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 stays at the club. with the club already devoid of creativity following the imminent departure of Gervinho, Hazard’s departure may jeopardise Lille’s hopes of winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and of doing well in the Champions League.
Far from the finished product
Hazard scored seven goals and provided ten assists in Lille’s double-winning campaign. Furthermore the youngster is still far from the finished product and should stay at the club for one more season before eventually joining a bigger club. Moreover, playing in the Champions League for Lille might also aid in Hazard’s development.
Rudi Garcia’s side did ever so well last season but not many would be expecting the club to repeat those feats in the 2011/2012 campaign. The departure of Hazard could make it even harder for Garcia to deliver trophies at a club that has slowly but surely started stamping its authority in Ligue 1.
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