New FC Lorient coach Sylvain Ripoll hopes to succeed on his debut Ligue 1 season as coach with Jordan Ayew’s huge impact.
Ripoll admits that changing from assistant coach to head the club is a big leap, but he will have the talent and experience of the Ghana striker.
He and Ayew will face their first test of the season away to big spenders and last season's runners-up AS Monaco FC on Sunday.
"Listen, we're very happy he's here first of all," explained Ripoll. "He's a young player, even though he has experienced a lot. He's a competitor and has great potential."
"He's just been at the World Cup so he's a young player with experience," said Lorient 'keeper Benjamin Lecomte. "We're going to need players like him this season."