For his first season at the head of LOSC, Bruno Genesio has had a very convincing career. As the year draws to a close, the northern club concludes the first half of the season in 4th place in Ligue 1, behind Paris Saint-Germain (1st), Olympique de Marseille (2nd) and AS Monaco (3rd). Just before the holidays, he also provided the essentials in the Coupe de France, securing a narrow victory in the 32nd final against Rouen (1-0) on Friday.
In the Champions League, Lille also had a solid campaign. It is the second highest ranked French club, occupying 8th place in the league phase, synonymous with qualification, just behind Brest (7th). In Europe’s premier competition, the Mastiffs created a surprise by beating Real Madrid (1-0) and Atlético Madrid (3-1), while holding off Juventus (1-1).
The nickname that says a lot
These high-level performances in the LdC have further strengthened Bruno Genesio’s reputation. The Rhone technician, known for being among the rare managers with Jürgen Klopp to have defeated renowned tacticians like José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone and Pep Guardiola, enjoys growing esteem, including within the Lille locker room. Enough to even earn him a flattering nickname, as revealed by Jonathan David.
“Pep Genesio? That’s what we call him in the locker room and in training! »said the Canadian striker in the show Téléfoot this Sunday. “His secret? Be calm, relaxed, without pressure. He believes in us and what we are capable of doing. »
