Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Marcelo Bielsa 'real option' to become Lille boss next season - director

Lille may have appointed a new interim coach in Franck Passi, but Marcelo Bielsa still remains "a real option" to take over at the start of next season, the Ligue 1 club have said.

Passi, Bielsa's assistant coach during his 15-month stint at Marseille, was on Wednesday handed the task of keeping Lille in Ligue 1, with the side a single place and point above the relegation zone. 

However, the shadow of his former boss looms large in Lille, who have reportedly already held talks with the former Argentina and Chile coach. 

"I have always said it was a real option for the start of next season," Lille managing director Marc Ingla told reporters at Passi's presentation. "We haven't reached an agreement yet."

Passi sat alongside Bielsa in the Marseille dugout as the latter won plaudits for his side's football, guiding them to a fourth-placed Ligue 1 finish in the 2014-15 season.

Bielsa then dramatically quit after the first game of the following campaign, claiming his work at OM was over and that he would be returning to his native Argentina.

"Marcelo and I talk often," Passi, who became Marseille boss himself before making way for Rudi Garcia earlier this season, told reporters.

"I called him on Sunday when I was approached because I have to be sincere with him. But he won't be involved in my mission of these 13 matches. What I do between now and the end of the season will only be up to me."

The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, who replaces Patrick Collot at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, added: "When I accepted the mission, I didn't ask myself the question whether I would work with Marcelo Bielsa at Lille. Perhaps I'll ask myself that one day. For the moment, I'm thinking about staying in Ligue 1."

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