How Lille’s new coach sacked Enyeama,11 others under 45 secs

Former Nigerian international, Vincent Enyeama’s fate at FC Lille of France was decided in 45 seconds.

The former Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper got dropped from the main team of the Ligue 1 side this summer by manager, Marcelo Bielsa, alongside 11 other established first-teamers at Lille.

According to one of the 12 players, dropped by the coach, Bielsa only talked to Enyeama and the rest for just 45 seconds without allowing them to further prove their relevance to the team in a trial match.

Eric Bautheac, also a ‘victim’, told L’Equipe how he ended two seasons at Lille on a low after being banished from first-team training by Bielsa when he returned for pre-season training in early July.

The former Nice player was not alone with Enyeama. Montenegro international Marko Basa and France international midfielder Rio Mavuba, who captained the Eden Hazard-inspired Double-winning team of 2010-11,  were among the group of senior pros cast aside.

Bautheac, who totalled 41 Ligue 1 appearances for the club, claimed Bielsa had given them no explanation for the measure in a brief chat.

“None at all,” Bautheac replied when asked if the former Marseille manager had given a reason for their exclusion. “The first day when we arrived he spoke to us for 45 seconds and he left. We didn’t see him again.”

He added: “I thought Bielsa would at least test us. We were surprised and even more so when we saw that we were 12, and the oldest players to boot. I said to myself, ‘It’s fine, he wants the little 20-year-olds to be able to manage them.’ With us, he wouldn’t have managed in the same way.”