Football Season Guide

Le Mans are back in Ligue 2 for the first time since 2019/20, when they were controversially relegated during the Covid season. It will be just their second season at this level in the last nine years having climbed back to stability after going bust in 2013. Now the aim is to maintain themselves at this level after a prolonged period away. Le Mans did not lack quality last season and underlined that with a strong run in the Coupe de France before eventually losing to PSG. Promotion, meanwhile, was won largely thanks to an improved defensive line, which averaged the loss of just a goal a game. But the success of last year has been largely ripped up. They have lost their best creative midfielder in the form of teenager Gabin Bernardeau, who has moved to Nice, while top scorer Arnold Vula has gone to Belgian football. Indeed, much of the starting XI has been stripped away, with Guingamp pinching attacking right-back Jeremie Matumona from MUC. The way the club has recruited appears a little risky. They have primarily signed players that head coach Patrick Videira feels have a point to prove. The addition of left-back Leroy Abanda typifies this. Having been earmarked as a huge prospect early in his career, he has failed to live up to that billing due to personal issues. The coach says these are resolved but with several such players, there is the capacity of a powder keg atmosphere. This is a team that has been put together in a high-risk manner due to circumstances and the idiosyncratic approach has been replicated in pre-season training, with unusual team-building exercises designed to bond the team. These included hitchhiking in teams of three to various locations around the region. The aim was to understand the area as well as their new colleagues. The results in pre-season have been encouraging. They have won all 3 friendly games they have played, including one against Ligue 1 side Le Havre, so the feeling for now is all positive.