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Lyon have confirmed assistant coach Gerald Baticle will take charge on an interim basis following the sacking of Sylvinho. Sylvinho was only appointed as head coach in May, but has paid the ultimate price following a shocking start to the season that has seen Lyon pick up just one win in the last nine games in all competitions.
The season had started in encouraging fashion with 3-0 and 6-0 wins over Monaco and Angers respectively, but it has gone downhill since then. They have failed to win since then and the derby defeat against St Etienne at the weekend would appear to be the final straw for the powers that be.
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Before the decision to sack Sylvinho was taken, club president Jean-Michel Aulas was quoted by L’Equipe as saying: “We have rarely been in that situation. Juninho will have to think. We are not where we wanted to be, that’s for sure.”
Not only did the Brazilian come under heavy fire for the poor run of results, but his playing style was also heavily criticised, and labelled unattractive.
It did not make full use of attacking talents such as Memphis Depay, Houssem Aouar, Moussa Dembele and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, and after slipping to 14th in the Ligue 1 standings, the decision was taken.
Baticle will now take charge on a temporary basis while the hunt for a new head coach begins.
Lyon host Dijon on October 19 after the international break, before a Champions League trip to Portugal to face Benfica, and the race could be on to get the new man on board before then.
