Lille’s defence of the Ligue 1 title has gone from bad to worse to disastrous

A dip was expected, but losing 3-0 to Troyes and finishing the game with nine men was worse than anyone expected for Lille. Troyes’ victory was a measure of vindication for a club who appeared to be circling the drain in late February, but have rebounded in wonderful fashion. But it was far more an indictment of just how poisonous Lille’s title defence has become, and how dire next season could be for the club. They are 10th in the table, have a negative goal difference and have won just one of their last six games.

Their title defence officially ended when PSG clinched the title last weekend, but the decline began last summer. Boubakary Soumaré and Mike Maignan were first out the door, followed by manager Christophe Galtier. Soumaré wanted to play in the Premier League for Leicester; Maignan was attracted by the opportunity of representing Milan, one of Europe’s most storied clubs; and, after years of financial chafing at Lille and St-Étienne, Galtier left for Nice where he was given substantial backing in the transfer window.

Further departures followed. Luiz Araújo moved to Atlanta United and Jonathan Ikoné signed for Fiorentina. Fiorentinahave done well this season, and are still in with a shout for a European place, but it’s hardly the Premier League; and Ikoné decided to leave Lille even after they had reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Left-back Reinildo was a January departure. The Mozambique international was out of contract in the summer, so there was something inevitable about his move, and it would have been difficult to turn down Atlético Madrid, where he has become a regular. However, these moves are adding up to a worrying trend that could see the club return to the depths of the 2017-18 season,