Aouar before City-Lyon: "We are not the favorites of this confrontation, but ..."

Special envoy to Lisbon,

"He is incredible". This is what Pep Guardiola said of Houssem Aouar in 2018, after OL's draw against Manchester City (2-2). Not a simple compliment of circumstance, knowing that the name of the Lyon medium has often been mentioned in the orbit of Skyblues in recent months ... The person concerned will therefore have a unique opportunity to demonstrate his talents again under the eyes of the Catalan coach Skyblues this Saturday (9 p.m.), in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. From there to talking about a job interview, there is only one step… that Aouar really does not want to take. “Job interview, no… Obviously, it's always flattering to see his name associated with such teams, he agrees, at a press conference. Afterwards, to be honest, I find it inappropriate to talk about my case, especially before a match of such importance. We will especially prepare well. In any case, I am 100% focused on OL. These are very important matches, very pleasant to play. ” And the opportunity to bring the Rhone club back to the half of the C1, as in 2010.

"We know that we are not the favorite of this confrontation, but we will play the blows thoroughly with a lot of relaxation and motivation"

And incidentally to continue to dream of an improbable coronation, and the European ticket that goes with it for next season. Because with a seventh place in Ligue 1, an elimination in the semi-final of the Coupe de France and a cruel setback, on penalties, in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, OL is not European at this time. . What has not happened since 1997, a year before… the birth of Houssem Aouar. “Given what we faced Juventus (in the round of 16), teams like Manchester City will prepare well against us, he guesses. With a lot of lucidity, we know that we are not the favorite of this confrontation, but we will play the blows thoroughly with a lot of relaxation and motivation. Afterwards, I hope that the teams, a priori less strong on paper, will be there at the end. In any case, we will do everything to. ”

Gones hungry after their exploit against Juve

The appetite comes with eating, as Rudi Garcia claims, and the Gones are therefore hungry after their feat against Juve. A match which also made it possible to see that OL are well physically, despite the stoppage of Ligue 1. “I think we've all been feeling very well since returning to competition. The whole group was well prepared, notes Aouar. It was normal to have doubts after this long period of inactivity, but from the game against PSG, we showed that we were well prepared physically. And I hope that will continue against City. ” Remember that the English were at the end of their championship.

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To dream, the Lyonnais will therefore have to have the legs, but also the head at the top, a united group. That's good, it is. “We are very united, very united with the approach of these big matches, insists Aouar. Which is completely normal. And we will go there with a lot of humility, of confidence. Big matches like that always give you a lot of desire to play them and to outdo each other. ” This had already been the case in 2018, when Lyon had taken four points against these same Citizens in the group stage of C1. “These confrontations help us especially mentally, because we tell ourselves that we have already done it and that in a match, it is possible. But everything is different, notes the young (22 years) middle. We will have to prepare well. And also prepare in a different way than it could have been the case before because the past is over. ”

"We know that all the people of Lyon are behind us"

It will be enough for Aouar and his teammates to look up to the stands of the José-Alvalade stadium to see that everything is different, with empty seats due to the pandemic. The support of the supporters is however very present, by interposed screens. "Messages, we have received so many ... We know that all the people of Lyon are behind us, he relishes. Playing without supporting is different. But this will be the case for both teams, in a dry match ... The conditions change completely. But that does not mean that it will have less flavor. It's still a quarter of C1. There is a lot of expectation and excitement about this match. ” It will soon be the moment to think about the future, perhaps far from the cocoon of Lyon. We remember that President Aulas opened the door to the departure of Aouar a few weeks ago. "He can only leave if we win the Champions League, so things are clear", jokes Rudi Garcia. A big check would probably be enough to get a transfer. But to go on such a coronation would have allure ...

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• Champions League results