Tom Oldfield


With European minnows Rubin Kazan and Unirea Urziceni earning big headlines for their fairytale runs, it went largely unnoticed that Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux were the real surprise package of the Champions League group stage. The French side topped Group A, leaving giants Bayern Munich and Juventus in their wake, and there will be no queue to face them in the New Year.
 
Bordeaux finished with 16 points from their six group games – a superb tally that would have been flawless but for a draw in Italy. After sharing the spoils in Turin in the opening group game, they won the next five. They beat Bayern Munich 2-1 at home and 2-0 away before sinking Juventus 2-0 in France. There was no complacency either, with professional wins against Maccabi Haifa, who finished the group stage without a point. Bordeaux scored nine goals and conceded just two.
 
Blanc is refusing to go overboard about this stylish run, though. After beating Juventus and clinching top spot, he told reporters: “In all phases of play, we were very efficient and rigorous. I am very happy and very proud of my team.” It is a rather modest assessment considering his achievements.
 
He must take a lot of the credit for turning the club’s fortunes around since taking charge in 2007. Blanc’s distinguished playing career included triumphant runs at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and loyal service at club level with the likes of Marseille, Inter Milan and Manchester United. A tally of 97 international caps and spells in several of Europe’s most competitive leagues provide a solid platform for a career in management and he has brought all that experience to his role at Bordeaux.
 
The 44-year-old has built the team steadily and success has been gradual. In his first season, Bordeaux finished second and Blanc scooped the Manager of the Year award. The signs of promise were there and a year later Blanc was celebrating the double as Bordeaux won the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup. He had revived the club’s fortunes but there were bigger challenges ahead and, with his background in the game, the Frenchman was never going to settle for this initial success.
 
Defending the title was always going to be just as tough as winning it, while the chance to make a splash in the Champions League added extra intrigue as the 2009/10 campaign began. So far, Blanc’s plans have been flawlessly carried out. Three straight league victories, over Nancy, PSG and Lyon, have kept Bordeaux on course for another Ligue 1 trophy – they sit four points clear at the time of writing – and their manager is reaping the benefits of placing his trust in talents like sought-after striker Marouane Chamakh, captain Alou Diarra and winger Yoann Gourcuff. The 4-2-3-1 formation ensures the back line is well protected and yet Chamakh is never short of support up front.
 
Their domestic bliss has certainly carried over into the Champions League. Many observers may have feared for Bordeaux’s chances when the groups were drawn and there was little talk about the French side surviving their tricky draw. Few could have foreseen the ease with which they shrugged the heavyweights aside.
 
Having topped their group, the French side will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea when the second round ties are drawn on 18th December. Of course, that still leaves talented teams like AC Milan, Inter Milan, Lyon and Porto roaming as second-placed qualifiers but, at the same time, Bordeaux could be paired with Stuttgart, CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos. Drawn against one of the latter three Bordeaux would surely be favourites to reach the last eight.
 
And people are definitely taking note now. With Raymond Domenech’s position as manager of the French national team looking increasingly unstable, Blanc is being promoted as a potential replacement for after the 2010 World Cup. That is an indication of just how impressive the former defender’s progress has been. The Bordeaux boss, who was always a big fan favourite as a player, has admitted being flattered by the interest while former players such as Eric Cantona have offered their support. The more success Blanc has, the more it appears that managing France is his destiny.
 
For now, though, his attention is on Bordeaux and the promise they are currently showing. The Ligue 1 title seems to be theirs for the taking while their European adventure has been a thrilling ride thus far. It would be too much to expect Blanc’s side to reach the latter stages of the Champions League this season but, given his progress at Bordeaux, there is a good chance that he will get there eventually.
 

 

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