More than rivals [FM20]

[BJT]

More than rivals / FM2020

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Manager Rivalry

It all began when Geno Moss secured a domestic treble with fierce rivals Glasgow Rangers that Victor Hugo took huge offence to.

Being a life long Celtic fan singing along to their famous tunes down at Celtic Park, it certainly brought an abrupt halt to proceedings – bringing him into football management.

Victor in his past life may have been a failure both at dancing at the disco quite abysmally, and also as a heavy legged boxer looking the fool. He does however seemed to have found the right formula as a football manager.

It will be a clash of both personalities and styles in the Manager vs Manager story. Victor huge on youth and poaching all the best youngsters about - be it legally or illegally.

Where as Geno Moss prefers tried and trusted players, much like his idol Jose Mourinho - with both managers very honest and loved by all of their players whomever they manage in the dressing room.

Club Rivalry

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Both managers have ended up at posts of French club’s with great history, but not a lot to show in recent times.

Victor Hugo takes the reigns at Olympic Marseille. Former Champions League winners can he bring the French side to glory?

And then Geno Moss at Lyon. A club that have been competitive but never tasted any success in European competition. Is that something I’ll be able to change?

The two clubs are fierce rivals domestically, and it’s not a rare occurrence to see the two sets of players brawl on and off the pitch.

Let’s just hope these two managers don’t bump into the same Café one free weekend….at least both managers will have one thing in common – knocking PSG off their comfortable perch.

Career Honours / Head to Head

Overall Head to Heads

Lyon - 4
Marseille - 5
Draws - 1

Geno Moss – Lyon

-Ligue 1 x1

Victor Hugo – Marseille

-Ligue 1 x1
-French Cup x2
-ECL x1

 

[Crayth]

Good luck guys! Sounds like an interesting concept!

 

[victorhugo4222]

I think you missed something out when descibing our styles... I like to play nice attractive, free flowing football against your boring, defensive, anti football style!

 

[BJT]

Lol - my sides can play good football! Although funnily enough I am working on a negative system at the moment But I think my Lyon side might surprise you - you will see some good footie!

 

[BJT]

Season 1 – A Blitzing Start

Competition Performance

Lyon - 3rd, French Cup R9, ECL Qtrs
OM - 2nd, French Cup Winners

Head to Heads

Lyon 1- OM 1

OM Lead the Way

Both managers have had an explosive start to the season, with Lyon and Marseille leaving PSG in their wake – after 16 games at least.

A lot of wheeling and dealing in the transfers from Moss has resulted in a squad with greater depth. This was very much needed given Lyon have the Champions League to contend with this year.

Victor Hugo despite the very short finances available at Marseille has still been able to get a few kids in. Punching well above their weight, OM sit at the top of the table from his and the club’s rivals.

OM - Co-Assistant Hired

A major factor that has allowed Victor to concentrate on managing his players and match day squad is the hiring of a secondary assistant manager.

Seen as a masterful tactician, KNAP has joined the ranks of Les Olympiens. Focusing solely on the tactical side, it looks like it is a match made in heaven so far.

And at an extremely minute cost, it’s probably OMs best signing of the Summer. So far his 4231 has been employed to great effect, with the squad adapting to the system extremely quickly.

A financial boost recently provided in the range of 10Mil GBP will also allow much greater manoeuvrability in the market, undoubtedly with more recruits needed to try and sustain the excellent start and cover for a couple of long-term injuries already suffered.

OL – Transfers

Some really good deals financially were scouted here. Bringing in two PSG rejects in Kehrer and Kurzawa, both were very much needed to bring depth but also greater suitability for the system Moss has in place.

Also coming in from Celtic is centre-back Ajer. A leader and an excellent Stopper Defender, he’ll become a real key player for Les Gones.

Cacciabao and Majer are the other two signings of note, players both young with room to develop expected to play a apart off the bench this year.

The First Battle | Lyon 1 - 0 Marseille

A Tight first Half

For the first time during Round 16, Moss and Hugo went at it at the home of Lyon. An important match for both sides. A win for OM and they would be miles clear at the top. A win for Lyon and it becomes a lot closer. And it was a really close contest. A game of two halves, and a battle of the two 4231 systems both are employing this season.

The first half definitely was better for the away side. With Lyon struggling to get into the game, it was OM creating more chances and looking dangerous on their ventures forward. However the Lyon Keeper had a good first half, with the scores tied at 0-0.

Wonder Free Kick Separates Sides

The second half however was a different story. Finally getting their passing rhythm together, Lyon were starting to look stronger in the midfield, and couple of clear cut chances were created only to be thwarted from the Marseille keeper.

With OM now struggling to create the chances they did in the first half, a lot of efforts were by the way of dead ball situations.

However failing to take these chances was to prove costly. With the pressure beginning to tell, Depay from 20 yards in the 80th minute his a glorious free kick that flew past Mandanda in the OM goal.

The last ten minutes saw little activity, with Lyon clinching a hard earned 1-0 victory. Crucial to cut the gap for both Lyon and PSG who have hit some form of late.

And it’s 1-0 in the head to heads for Moss so far, and an important win to keep Lyon in striking distance of top spot.

 

[BJT]

S1 - Unbeaten PSG Steal Title Glory

After leading the way for much of the season, a bitter blow for Moss' Lyon when their star midfielder Bruno Guimaraez sustained an injury putting out for nearly 2 months. In that period five defeats from six games in all competitions led to the bubble being burst.

In the meantime, Hugo's Olympic Marseille were really on form and with a few games left were the title contenders vs the money bags of France. This included a return 3-1 victory at home over Moss's Lyon.

However the big clash between the two sides in which PSG on their own turf won 2-0 ultimately decided the title in their favour. And this also happened to be revenge for the cup success OM had just days earlier.

The table was very tight at the top in the end, with Moss left wondering if only he didn't lose his midfield general it could have been oh so different....

OM French Cup Winners

It was funny how two competitions were decided in the space of a few days. The league game followed straight after this final, which ended up being a tense affair despite 3 unanswered goals from OM from the off.

Les Parisiens came back well to their credit, but the young kids did the Marseille coaching staff proud holding on to win 3-2 and bring home the French Cup home for the eleventh time.

PSG have now failed to win this trophy for two successive years, with OM taking over from Rennes as the current holders. - and Hugo his first trophy in the OM dugout.

 

[BJT]

S2 - PSG Dominant once again

Competition Performance

Lyon - 2nd, French Cup Quarters, ECL R1
OM - 3rd, French Cup Semis, ECL Semi's

Head to Heads

Lyon 2 - OM 0

Despite Moss’ Lyon keeping up the pace with PSG for most of the season, again Les Parisiens just had too much quality to burn, winning another title with a couple of games left to spare.

99 points was their final total, with Lyon recording another new points record securing 93.

Victor in Control

This year Victor’s OM, wanting to stamp his authority on more matters he took on the tactical responsibilities on for this season in the hope he could bring OM over the line this time around. It culminated in an excellent ECL run reaching the semi’s before being knocked out by Liverpool.

However the league form suffered as a result recording 86 compared to the 93 points last year with Knap at the helm. Monaco came very close to pinching the third spot, but for once Victor was grateful to Moss after his Lyon beat Monaco near the end of the season helping OM to secure the third ECL spot.

Moss Grabs the Spoils - League Double over Rivals

The first match at OM saw a very tight win for Moss’ Lyon. Going one up and looking in relative control, a silly challenge meant having to suffer with 10 men for a third of the game. However Lyon hung on to record a 1-0 victory.

The return game at Lyon was perhaps one of Moss’s sides best performances Against a strong OM, a really polished and hard-working performance saw his side go 4-0 up before a consolation goal from Hugo’s side. Moss couldn't hide his delight at the full-time whistle, looking for the after match hand-shake with Victor - nowhere to be found.

These results frustrated Victor, as well as not performing well vs PSG this year. A surprise loss to Angers in the French Cup Semi’s meant no silverware for Victor this year, who is contemplating re-hiring assistants Knap and also bringing in TFF for the league campaign next year.

On Course

Nevertheless to a degree both sides have progressed. With Lyon scoring more points in the league with a squad containing more depth, and OM’s good run in the ECL and youth players continually improving. The winning the league 5 year plan of Victor is still well on course.

 

[BJT]

S3 – PSG Finally Toppled!

Competition Performance

Lyon - Ligue 1 Winners, French Cup R9, ECL R1
OM - 3rd, French Cup Winners, ECL Semi's

Head to Heads

Lyon 1 - OM 1

Moss’s Olympique Lyon – Le Champions Ligue 1

In a highly interesting and exciting title chase which involved Lyon, PSG, and late on Hugo’s OM, it was the outfit from Lyon which held their nerve tremendously well over the last several games – with a bit of luck in the process.

Both PSG and Lyon first half of the season were practically neck and neck with each other. Despite Lyon looking the better goal scoring and defensive side, PSG weren’t dropping any points.

Victor’s OM - Gelled too late

Meanwhile OM were struggling at the start of the season which likely cost Victor’s side. After trying several different tactics from both his assistants Knap and TFF, he finally stumbled into a 4321 system which gelled extremely well with the youthful and energetic young Marseille squad Victor has brilliantly assembled.

Camavinga especially of note already a world-class player at just 19. But for a real title challenge, this all came just a little too late for his side.

However the Champions League run OM had was again excellent this year. Reaching the Semi’s, it was Man City the side to stop them in their tracks. A 4-1 aggregate defeat, but a scoreline which didn’t tell the story of the two legged tie.

But a second French Cup win comfortably beating Rennes 4-1 eased the pain, with Victor becoming a bit of an Unai Emery with winning cups – not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing though!

PSG threw title away

Don’t get me wrong, the 99 points achieved by Moss’ Lyon breaking yet another club record was an excellent achievement. But PSG did Lyon a big favour, dropping points in the penultimate round of fixtures at home to mid-table St Etienne.

With Moss’s Lyon winning away at Brest, the huge goal difference advantage effectively meant Lyon were champions before the last game as a 3 point gap had been assembled. (Huge sigh of relief)

Victor Forced to watch Moss’s Victory Parade and Title Presentation after Match @ Marseille's Veledrome

The last game was against Hugo’s OM in Marseille, which went the way of the dancing Scotsman, avenging the 5-3 defeat to Lyon in the first game of the league season.

Two set pieces killed Moss’s side in this one – but stories say all his squad went out on the lash the night before. It’s not often a side beat PSG to the title. But no surprise at the lacklustre and ill-disciplined performance there, which resulted in playing with 10 men for most of the second half.

Despite the win for Victor’s OM it was still a defeat, with the trophy presentation soon to take place in front of him, his team and his own fans. Moss then hugged and congratulated all his players after a tough long season, after successfully keeping pace with the Paris outfit and pipped them to the post at the end.

And with the stadium set with the title finally being presented and lifted by Moss in front of an angry Victor and his own Marseille fans for them to watch and groan, Moss had the very last laugh @ both Victor and his two assistant sidekicks.

Late Wins Key to Lyon Success

There were several games my side were struggling to break down the opponents, or being held to a draw. There must have been a good handful of games where subs and some late late drama came to our aid.

Also key was keeping Dembele up front in tip top condition. Missing only a few games all year, he was a highly dependable presence for us.

And the depth brought in from both transfers and loans including Wague at right back especially were highly important. He ended up becoming our first choice right back ahead of Heinrichs and came up with some crucial goals and assists in the late title surge.

 

[BJT]

S4 – Hugo Bites Back

Competition Performance

Lyon - Ligue 1 Runners Up, French Cup R10, ECL Quarters
OM - Ligue 1 Winners, French Cup Semi's, ECL Winners

Head to Heads

Lyon - 0
OM - 3
Draw - 1

OM – Kings of France and Europe

Victor’s 4th season @ Marseille proved to be a highly memorable for both himself and the fans.

Showing huge consistency over the course of the season whilst finally turning the tables on fierce rivals Lyon and Moss, it led to a league and ECL double, and a fully deserved one – knocking Lyon out the ECL in the process too.

Suffering just the one league defeat all year, this led the platform to scoring 101 points and breaking the French Ligue 1 points total record.

PSG playing the part

Although PSG were off the pace this season, they were the club who decided the fate of Marseille’s success and led to a nail biter of a season's end.

After beating Hugo’s OM in the French cup, there was more drama in the league. 3-2 up with only injury time remaining, a defeat for OM would have also left OM without a title in their cabinet.

But a last minute goal from a set piece play from Camavinga gave Hugo a huge sigh of relief, realising this point could well tip the title in their favour – which it did.

And then the ECL final also saw OM square up against PSG. But on the neutral venue held at Wembley, OM were the superior side on the day and fully merited their 2-1 win to lift the trophy.

Dembele Penalty Miss Proves Costly

Moss will not forget anytime soon the game that effectively gave Marseille their title win. Despite playing some really good football all season, a number of games where both first team centre-backs Pavard and Ajer were either suspended or injured. This proved costly.

These games Lyon dropped crucial points in and excludes the home game against Victor’s side, where some real drama and lack of composure meant Moss knew things weren't going to go Lyon's way this season.

With the game at 2-3, Dembele had a chance to equalise from the spot. But it was a superb save from the Marseille keeper that kept Lyon at bay.

Despite this, Lyon still ended up on 100 points and a vast superior goal difference compared to Marseille – but performances in the big games with injury issues meant retaining the league title wasn’t to be.