Lyon: Houssem Aouar, like a big boy

By our special correspondent in Lyon,

"We will give the best of ourselves," promised Rudi Garcia, on the eve of this Lyon-Juventus. And the coach from Lyon adds: "You will have to be at the top in all areas, mental, tactical, technical and physical." His speech was obviously heard. And this moody OL, modest seventh in Ligue 1, delighted the Groupama Stadium. A combative, disciplined, transcended OL. And surprise winner against the Old Lady (1-0) Wednesday, in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Lyonnais gave everything, really everything. It was still necessary to put "madness" at times to unbalance the champions of Italy, create danger. And that is the work of Houssem Aouar, among others. With Nabil Fekir gone, Memphis Depay in the infirmary, the international U21 tricolor, native of Lyon and pure product of the training of the club dear to Jean-Michel Aulas, was expected at the turn. He did not disappoint.

“Houssem is with us and good with us. He's an important player "

Just, sure, serene, the number 8 of OL made a full match in the offensive trio of 3-4-3 imagined by coach Garcia. Active too, more than ever since the start of the season, which is true for many Rhone players ... Finally decisive. Assists decisive for the goal signed Lucas Tousart (29th), after a class number on the left side to play with his vis-à-vis. For the show aspect, we will remember this little bridge over Paulo Dybala in the first period. But it is above all the quality of the movements and transmissions of the 21-year-old player that we retain at the end of this part, by far the best on the collective level of Olympique Lyonnais in 2019-20. And the little waste: 56 balls, 44 passes including 84.1% successful passes, five recovered balls, 10 lost. Clean.

Some doubted the ability of Aouar to raise his level, to fully exploit his exceptional potential. They are at their expense this time. Which Aouar is in the viewfinder of some European cadors, we know it. Juve is one of them, according to some Italian media… "Juve does indeed follow some of our players apparently, quips Rudi Garcia. Suddenly, we would have liked to take others, I read that Blaise Matuidi had been in our objectives (smile) ... It's good war before a match like this. But Houssem is with us and well with us. He is an important player. It is in this kind of match that our great players, our players with great potential can make us win. ”

Decisive against Leipzig

And Garcia to continue: "Speaking of Houssem, I think of the match against Leipzig, where he was notably in the 2nd period, the great craftsman of our qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League." Author of a perfect roll up in the left corner of the surface, the child of Lyon had indeed equalized against the Germans in the group stage, while OL were led 0-2. He had also been at the origin of the equalizing goal, that of the draw, that of the qualification for the players of president Aulas. The one that allowed Lyon to have the chance to measure themselves against the leaders of the Italian classification, generally disappointing on Wednesday evening, but who pushed, pushed hard at the end of the game.

In vain. Aouar and OL, with an irreproachable state of mind, could savor, commune with their audience at the final whistle. Obviously, said Aouar was not the only one to shine. We think in particular of the rookie Bruno Guimaraes, who only knew his second tenure. And the Brazilian's activity, his vista, helped Aouar play more liberated before him. And the latter did not miss much on Wednesday, with a shot, three last passes before a shot. All good. What give reason to think about him on the side of the staff of the France team and Didier Deschamps. For the next rally in March, and even Euro 2020?

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