The best news for Bordeaux apart from winning their 6th Championnat over the weekend with their 1-0 win over Caen was Yoann Gourcuff’s decision to remain with the club and sign a four year permanent contract worth €15million.
Gourcuff’s midfield gifts were nurtured by coach Laurent Blanc, who as a player was called Le President for his intelligence and leadership qualities on the pitch. He’s bought that same intelligence to his player transfers. In Gourcuff he saw a player that he could build a team around. The midfielder whose progress was stymied at Milan did not disappoint with 12 goals and 11 assists in his first season, an achievement that won him the Ligue’s POY award. Gourcuff’s presence means that Marouane Chamakh and Fernando Cavenaghi can keep up their sharpshooting ways. He also has David Bellion, one of Man Utd’s infamous busts after being “tapped” from Sunderland who seems to be scoring goals a bit more frequently.
Blanc’s defense are rejects from other clubs who unde his tutelage have found their footing. Alou Diarra from Lyons, ex-Charlton defender Souleymane Diawara, and Lille’s Mathieu Chalme bolstered the defense keeping the goal count down to 34 goals which proved crucial after Marseille looked firm favourites to win.