At the twilight of the 2007-2008 season, dominated once again by their club, the Lyon supporters would no doubt have giggled if you had told them that this 7th title of champion of France in a row would succeed - at least - twelve long years of famine.
However, we are in 2021 and OL are still chasing their glorious past, relegated to the shadow of the Qatari version of PSG, and unable to take advantage of the windfall when the latter falters.
But things could change soon.
On a good series of 16 games without defeat, the club of Jean-Michel Aulas is indeed leader at the end of the first leg of the championship, one point ahead of Paris and Lille.
The dream of finally regaining the throne is allowed.
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Garcia, skilful general-in-chief
His appointment in the fall of 2019 to erase the Sylvinho fiasco did not allow OL to return to the top of a ranking (7th) frozen by the Covid-19, to the chagrin of its president.
But as in Rome or Marseille in the past, Rudi Garcia was able to instill in his troops a conquering state of mind which carried them to the semi-final of the Champions League last summer (defeat against Munich).
Since then, the former Lille coach has skilfully surfed the wave of exploits against Juventus and Manchester City.
Inspired in his tactical adjustments according to the movements of the workforce (5-3-2, 4-3-3) and a fine psychologist with players with fluctuating status but always concerned, Garcia also adores commando operations, he who sometimes has struggled to convince over time.
This is good, his boss does not a priori intend to extend his contract expiring in June.
Unless…
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A talented and rich workforce
For most clubs, the imminent loss of their top scorer the previous season would be a blow.
Not for OL, on the verge of letting go without trembling the ghost of Moussa Dembélé at Atlético Madrid.
Because with the now effective Karl Toko-Ekambi (9 goals in L1), the fiery Tino Kadewere, his always brilliant captain Memphis Depay (in the uncertain future) and his local nugget Rayan Cherki, Lyon has quite a few arguments to make before (39 goals scored, 2nd attack behind PSG, 43).
There is also a plethora of talent in the middle.
To the heroes of the Lisbon Final 8 (Aouar, Caqueret, Guimaraes), was added Lucas Paqueta, not far from being the best recruit in L1, all clubs combined.
The € 20m paid to AC Milan for the Brazilian seems like a straw today.
After a difficult first year in the Rhône, Thiago Mendes has again become the rock he was in Lille.
In defense, the succession is also assured in the axis behind the tauliers (Marcelo-Denayer) with the promising Sinaly Diomandé (19 years old).
Mattia De Sciglio, on loan from Juve, also does the job Djamel Benlamri when Garcia calls on them.
An advantageous schedule
Jean-Michel Aulas had struggled to digest that the 2019-2020 exercise does not come to an end to see his club finish on the podium.
But the absence of the Champions League this season is ultimately not such bad news.
With only one match to play per week, OL spared the hellish pace imposed on its European competitors in the fall (PSG, Marseille, Rennes and Lille in the Europa League).
Fresher, the Lyonnais have also already played in Paris (1-0 victory), Lille (1-1) and Rennes (2-2).
Their most perilous move of the return phase?
A trip to Marseille (February 28).
They will finally have the advantage of receiving on the last day (Nice, May 23).
Until then, we will have to keep pace and resist the Parisian machine if it starts rolling, as often, in Ligue 1.
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League 1 standings