At OL Park,
Can we have taken more points than contenders for the podium in Ligue 1 like Monaco (2nd) and Losc (4th) in the return phase and seriously be wary of receiving an opponent who has only won two matches in 30 days of Ligue 2? This is quite the challenge that awaits Olympique Lyonnais, between now and its seemingly very unbalanced Coupe de France semi-final against Valenciennes on Tuesday (8:45 p.m.) at Parc OL. Even when it concedes a draw at home, like Saturday against Stade de Reims (1-1), Pierre Sage’s group seems serene and armed with certainties, carried into 2024 by a record as a candidate for the Champions League ( six wins and a draw in nine days), while all the signals were sending him to Ligue 2 at the start of December.
Surprising central defender at kick-off on Saturday in a 3-4-1-2, Corentin Tolisso perfectly sums up the Lyon state of mind at the moment: “I think we showed a good face this evening: we played short, long, on the sides. I think we showed a lot of good things. We especially knew how to react after conceding a goal [à la 65e, Nuamah a répondu au Rémois Okumu]. It’s rare this season and it shows that we really have character.” Yes, helped by a regenerating winter transfer window, with Matic, Benrahma and Mangala as potential starters since February, OL no longer have anything to do with the sinking raft, without a course, under Laurent Blanc and Fabio Grosso.
Ten points ahead of the jump-off
Now a model student of the soft stomach, well placed in tenth place in our Ligue 1, with six points ahead of Toulouse (11th, one game in hand) and four behind Reims (9th), has Lyon still something to aim for in the last seven days of the championship? “We would have liked to win against Reims to really ensure this maintenance, move on to something else, and why not look at another objective,” summarizes Corentin Tolisso. This evening, we are not yet sure of being maintained, we are missing a few points. »
We understand the extreme caution of a player still marked by the disastrous first part of the season. But OL have already reached the milestone of 35 points set by their coach to make their retention official. Barragiste, Nantes (16th) is ten lengths behind, before going this Sunday (3 p.m.) to Nice. Suffice it to say that what had become the vital objective of the club was completed with the arrival of spring. Knowing this, is it unplayable after this slight setback in the evening to seek European qualification via a place in the Top 6 or even the Top 7 in the championship?
“We will have to be determined and very professional”
“No, everything is still possible,” says Pierre Sage, who is above all keen to “produce the game, have attractive football, progress as a team, put together good matches and ensure that people enjoy playing. come to the stadium. Well-stocked on Saturday (46,097 spectators), Parc OL will be sold out (around 58,000 seats) for the Cup semi-final against Valenciennes. A unique opportunity to try to save a season that has been frightening for so long by dreaming of a combo qualifying for the Europa League and first title since 2012, via a final in Lille, on May 25, against the winner of PSG-Rennes.
“We have a very big match on Tuesday and we owe this final to our supporters,” says Corentin Tolisso with envy. We are on a good run, we have confidence in ourselves but we do not underestimate this Valenciennes team at all. We know it’s going to be a very complicated match. We are eagerly awaited. We will have to be determined and very professional. » After all, in the recent past, OM seemed to have a royal road to an 11th Coupe de France, but the Marseillais had ruined everything during a nightmarish quarter at the Vélodrome against Annecy (17th in Ligue 2 at the end of the season). season). After this significant elimination (2-2, 6-7 on penalties), Valentin Rongier pointed out “a major professional error”.
“Calf alert” for Rayan Cherki
It would be the same for OL if things were to go badly on Tuesday against a team already almost condemned to the National, and which recognized on Saturday, after its 17th defeat in L2 against ASSE (0-2), that “all the “The world had its head in Lyon” (says VA striker Anthony Knockaert). Without openly favoring the Cup over Ligue 1 this week, Pierre Sage chose to rest against Reims Orel Mangala and Nicolas Tagliafico, who did not come into play, as well as Saïd Benrahma and Ernest Nuamah, who appeared in the second half and both were decisive.
The two ultimate captains Alexandre Lacazette and Nemanja Matic were able to breathe from the hour mark, while Rayan Cherki left at half-time as a precaution, due to a “small calf injury”. All these beautiful people will have a role to play in guaranteeing OL their first final since losing the Coupe de la Ligue against PSG in July 2020 (0-0, 5-6 on penalties).