10 Ligue 1 Players with Most to Prove in Final Months of the Season
The majority of teams now only have 10 games to go in the current Ligue 1 season, and there are plenty of questions still to be answered as the league heads toward an exciting climax.
There is a fascinating title race to conclude, the fight for the remaining Champions League and European places is far from decided, and no club from 10th place down is truly safe from relegation.
With all those issues still to be resolved, clubs will be looking to certain players to step up and make a difference. Some players have failed to make a distinct mark this season and now have just 10 games to do so.
Here are the 10 Ligue 1 players with most to prove in the final few months of the season.
Divock Origi, Lille OSC
1 of 10
After scoring five times during his breakout campaign last season, Divock Origi was regarded one of the hottest prospects in Ligue 1, but a summer move to Liverpool seems to have stalled his progress.
The Belgian has only scored three times in 2014/15 and hasn’t found the net domestically since Lille's 1-0 win over Bastia in September. His displays on the pitch led to disgruntled fans airing their grievances and making it known that they were not happy with the effort the 19-year-old was putting in.
Origi already has his move sealed, and Liverpool will be a completely different environment, but he has a great opportunity to show fans in both France and England that he is still worth the hype by helping Lille achieve a mid-table position.
Florian Thauvin, Oympique de Marseille
2 of 10
One-time France under-20 world champion Florian Thauvin made a lot of noise to get his move to Marseille in the summer of 2013. After a decent first season, his second under Marcelo Bielsa has been nothing short of a disappointment.
Although he's still young and his numbers—five goals and three assists—look fairly productive, it is his performances that have been lacking. Even at 22 years old, you expect a player with as much talent as Thauvin to take control of games, but all too often he is missing in action.
He is one of Bielsa’s favourites, but if Marseille still want to consider themselves title challengers, the Argentinian needs his young winger to step up and show why he is worth the attention. If Thauvin finds form, l'OM might just go all the way.
Wissam Ben Yedder, Toulouse
3 of 10
The season started so well for Wissam Ben Yedder, but it could up end being an absolute disaster for both the striker and his club, Toulouse.
Friday’s 6-1 defeat to Marseille summed up the team's season. They had just as many, if not more chances than l'OM but crumbled in defence while looking toothless upfront.
Only the goals of Ben Yedder can help Le Tefece survive the drop. He started the season scoring six goals in nine games, but he has gone three in 18 since.
Yohan Cabaye, Paris Saint-Germain
4 of 10
Since his move last winter, Yohan Cabaye has failed to show his best form in the Paris Saint-Germain midfield. He has not been able to hold down a regular place in the team and hasn’t taken the chances that have been handed to him by Laurent Blanc.
With Adrien Rabiot beginning to make his mark, Cabaye has slipped down to fifth choice. If the France international is given another start this season, he needs to grab it with both hands. Not just for his career in Paris, but also to attract any potential suitors this summer.
Benjamin Corgnet, Saint-Etienne
5 of 10
Last season, Benjamin Corgnet was the midfield dynamo who helped the Saint-Etienne midfield tick. This season has been all but a write-off. Poor form and injuries have hampered him, and Les Verts have consequently struggled.
In 15 games this season, the midfielder hasn’t registered a single goal or an assist. Christophe Galtier’s side have sorely missed the goals, drive and creativity he brought from deep last season.
In order to finish in the top four, or win the Coupe de France, they need Corgnet to rediscover that form and become a crucial member of the starting lineup once again.
Yoann Gourcuff, Olympique Lyonnais
6 of 10
Mercurial midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has not had the best of times since joining Lyon from Bordeaux back in 2010. Gourcuff’s contract is up in the summer and his future is uncertain. Lyon cannot afford to re-sign him at the same rate he is on now, and the player can’t really justify the same demands of his current contract.
Gourcuff still has a role to play at Lyon, and his experience will be vital going into the last few weeks of the season. If he can put in a good run of performances and turn back the clock, he could find himself with a number of attractive options.
"2 - Yoann Gourcuff has delivered his first brace of assists in Ligue 1 since August 2013. Renaissance.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 8, 2015"
His two-assist performance against Montpellier in Lyon’s 5-1 victory on Sunday needs to be the standard he matches for the rest of the season. Anything less and it may be a long summer for the former France international.
Nicolas N'Koulou, Olympique de Marseille
7 of 10
The career of Nicolas N’Koulou has been very up and down in recent years. Just when you think he is about to build on a stellar season, his form drops. Often linked with moves away from France, perhaps this inconsistency is the main reason he is still at Marseille.
A combination of international duty and injury has kept him out of Bielsa’s plans since Week 19, but once he is back, the defensive stability he affords will play a huge factor in where Marseille finish in the table.
"33% - Marseille have won 71% of their Ligue 1 games with Nicolas N'Koulou this season, 33% without him. Injured.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 24, 2015"
When he has played this season, Marseille have conceded 15 goals in 17 games, compared to 16 goals in the 11 games he’s missed. If N’Koulou can return and help shore up l'OM's defence, they will have a chance of lifting the Ligue 1 title. Perhaps then the questions over his long-term consistency will disappear.
Ola Toivonen, Stade Rennais
8 of 10
In his first half-season with Rennes, Ola Toivonen made an instant impact. The Swedish striker scored seven goals, picked up an assist and looked every bit the striking option Philippe Montanier had been looking for.
However, his form has completely dropped off, and he has only scored three goals in his last 17 matches, leading to Montanier looking toward others to lead the Rennes line.
Even if he doesn’t have a future in Rennes beyond this season, he will want to show potential suitors he still has the ability to be a leading centre-forward.
Rio Mavuba, Lille OSC
9 of 10
Rio Mavuba is still loved by the majority of the Lille faithful, but his age, performances and contract situation have seen his position as indispensable starter slip.
Even though he is a free agent in the summer, the player himself recently admitted that he has not had any talks with Lille over his future, reported by the Express.
Lille’s captain has a great opportunity to lead his team back up the table and put in the impressive performances that helped him go to the World Cup. If he can do that, he will get that move abroad he wants so much.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain
10 of 10
On paper, the 12 league goals scored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic this season represents a decent return, given it has been an up and down campaign with injuries and suspensions hampering his form.
However, when you break it down, four have been penalties and five came in the opening four weeks—far from dazzling.
Ibrahimovic has only scored once from open play in his last 10 league games. If Paris Saint-Germain have aspirations of lifting the league title, they need him back to his best. Similarly, if the striker wants to prove he is worth a new contract in the French capital, he needs to show he is still worth all the fuss.
