Benjamin Mendy, who already faced a thigh injury between October and November, suffered a setback this morning during training. The French international player appears to be dealing with a new hamstring injury.
This string of injuries continues to impact the Morbihan-based club. After the absences of six players (Boisgard, Silva, Touré, Faivre, Innocent, and Le Goff) for the 32nd round of the Coupe de France, Benjamin Mendy unfortunately joins the list of injured players.
Benjamin Mendy’s setback comes at a bad time
Lorient, already struggling on the sporting front with a 17th place in Ligue 1 and only 2 wins in the first 17 matches, may lose Benjamin Mendy for several weeks. According to information from Le Télégramme, the left-back got injured on Wednesday morning during training, experiencing discomfort in the hamstring.
The player needed several minutes to get up and was eventually transported by cart. It is still too early to assess his health precisely, but the initial indications are not reassuring.
This new injury is a blow for Régis Le Bris, especially just days before the match against LOSC for the resumption of the championship. Lorient, without a win for almost three months, currently occupies the precarious second-to-last position in Ligue 1. Benjamin Mendy’s injury adds to the already significant challenges the club is facing, especially considering the strained relationship between the player and coach Régis Le Bris.
According to L’Équipe, the situation at Lorient seems tense, and changes could occur quickly. Régis Le Bris, the coach who personally approved Benjamin Mendy‘s arrival this summer, promising to help him regain his form, now seems to be facing relational complications with the player.
Tension between Benjamin Mendy and his coach
Since his return to competition, Mendy played his 3rd match of the season as a starter on December 20. The 29-year-old defender had joined Brittany after being cleared of several rape and sexual assault charges in England, where he had not played since August 2021 with Manchester City.
On December 10, Mendy scored his first goal with Lorient in the defeat against OM (2-4), playing as a midfielder. Le Bris had praised his performance, especially his ability to “contain” Jonathan Clauss, the opposing right-back. However, the tone appears to have changed since then. After criticizing his players internally, Le Bris had lamented in a press conference a lack of humility among certain members of his squad. The recent defeat in Brest seems to have left deeper scars within the team.
The strained relationship between Benjamin Mendy and his coach raises questions about how Lorient will handle the situation. Mendy’s reaction, who is reportedly unhappy with his coach, remains to be seen. In any case, after facing difficulties off the field, it is not opportune for the former OM player to get involved in controversies that could compromise his reputation.
With his age and physical abilities, there is no guarantee that lucrative offers will come for the 2018 World Cup champion, especially considering his less stable financial situation. Arriving at Lorient this summer with hopes of revitalizing his career after two years of inactivity, Mendy now finds himself at the center of a new controversy within the club that welcomed him despite months without competition and previous legal troubles.
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