Valenciennes dismiss Pierre Blois despite 13-0 cup win

Valenciennes have decided to part ways with Pierre Blois despite a commanding French Cup victory over Hombourg. The team won 13-0 in the fifth round and secured a place in the draw for the sixth. It will nevertheless enter the next stage without its coach: the cup win did not alter the technical staff’s future as the club seeks to improve its league results.

Blois leaves his role as first-team coach from this Monday. Samuel Goethals takes over on an interim basis, assisted by Rudy Mater, with both changes taking effect the same day.

There is a significant league challenge ahead: Valenciennes sit 15th in the French third division after 9 matches. The club has 2 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats, scoring 9 goals and conceding 14, for a total of 8 points. At this early stage of the season, those results have fallen short of expectations. The interim staff’s task therefore begins with a sharp contrast: a place in the next cup round earned by a huge scoreline, but a difficult league position.