After a year spent chomping at the bit, the Lyonnais are reconnecting with Europe.
If the start of the season was relatively complicated, OL finally seem to be in working order.
The principles of play of Peter Bosz are gradually integrated in the minds of the players and the contribution of the new recruits (Emerson, Shaqiri and Boateng) begins to be felt.
With their two consecutive victories, against FC Nantes (0-1) and RC Strasbourg (3-1), the Gones can approach their trip to Glasgow with more serenity, leaving aside their past doubts.
To discover
Fixtures and results Europa League
The Rhone club will therefore replay a European Cup this season.
Undoubtedly not the one he hoped for, certainly, but perhaps the one which corresponds more to his measure.
The Lyonnais do not hide it, the Europa League is clearly one of their objectives this season.
To bring back a European trophy between Rhône and Saône is a sweet dream emitted by President Aulas.
Top seed in the draw, OL is one of the contenders.
The draw was also very lenient, placing the Lyon club with Sparta Prague, Brondby, and therefore the Glasgow Rangers.
A relatively affordable group, but caution remains in order because the Lyonnais have accustomed their supporters to outsmart against less "prestigious" opponents.
You have to play it to win it.
Jean-Michel Aulas
The whole club seems to be pulling in the same direction again, with ambitions and a clear goal: the Europa League. This is what Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas said for the newspaper
L'Equipe
last August:
“Like every year, we have to go to the Champions League and therefore grab one of the top three places. Our number one goal will be to get the Europa League. Even if it's pretentious, you have to play it to win it. It is the year or never saw our workforce to impose us. We have a high quality team and I have great confidence that we will go far in this event with a very talented coach.
The title in sight, the road to the Ramón-Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium in Seville (theater of the final on May 18, 2022) begins this Thursday in Glasgow, against Rangers, a priori the most difficult opponent in Group A.
The seven-time champion club of France will be able to count on the vast majority of its living forces to start its new campaign.
Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, returning from Brazil (red zone regarding the covid-19 epidemic), have been authorized to travel by UEFA.
And finally, Xherdan Shaqiri, who does not have a full vaccination passport, will also be traveling to Scotland.
However, a notable absentee is added to the packages of Léo Dubois, Tino Kadewere and Jeff Reine-Adelaïde: the starting center-forward of OL Moussa Dembélé.
The former Celtic, current co-top scorer in Ligue 1 (4 goals in 5 games), would no doubt have liked to shine again against his old enemy.
Moussa Dembélé, injured, will be largely absent from the match.
PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP
A match where the shadow of a man will hover: Gérard Houllier. Died on December 14, one of the former strongmen of Olympique Lyonnais had participated in the hatching of a certain Steven Gerrard. Now Rangers coach, the former Liverpool legend paid tribute to his former mentor on Wednesday at a press conference: “
I would have liked him to be there tomorrow (Thursday) evening. It was he who started me, who gave me my first chance, and thanks to him, I learned so much in terms of education and knowledge ... The day I learned of his death was was a very sad day for me and for my family. I hope Gérard will see the game from up there and that he will be very proud of both teams. "