Deprived of its holder Anthony Lopes, suspended, Lyon is counting on the experienced Rémy Riou to keep the cage against Troyes on Friday (9 p.m.) at the start of the 3rd day of Ligue 1, an astonishing destiny for the 35-year-old doorman.
Trained at OL but forced to look elsewhere for playing time, the goalkeeper traveled a lot before returning to his hometown this summer.
Initially in a number 3 role...until circumstances pushed him to center stage.
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“
I came home and found myself on the pitch.
I am very happy, you have to be ready but I also have a little thought for Antho (Lopes)
”, excluded at the start of the season against Ajaccio (2-1) and suspended three games, reacted Riou.
It is therefore with this double in goal that OL will try to chain a second victory on Friday, after two weeks of forced rest due to the postponement of the match in Lorient last weekend.
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“Calm and fair”
“
Rémy entered very well (against Ajaccio).
He was calm and fair in the kicking game.
At 2-1, he made a great save.
It went well
”, rejoiced his trainer Peter Bosz.
Free after three years in Caen (L2) and a solid career, Riou therefore returned to OL with a two-year contract, a priori as number 3. Then, by force of circumstance, he was promoted.
He was finally designated number 2 before the last pre-season match against Inter Milan (2-2), at the expense of the German Julian Pollersbeck.
Julian Pollersbeck has been relegated to the hierarchy, OL would even try to find him a base.
Panoramic
“
This week, Rémy trained well.
I can understand that the pressure is different for him because starting as a starter is different from entering the game. But he is not a young person without experience.
We've been very happy with him since he's been with us and now he can demonstrate his qualities to everyone
,” Bosz said.
To spare Lopes cumbersome competition, the second goalkeeper at OL was often too weak and the team was in danger due to the rare absences of the Portuguese international.
A recurring problem, except for the 2019-2020 season when the Romanian international Cyprian Tatarusanu thought he had come to be N.1.
Is the question settled this time, with a goalkeeper at the end of his career?
Generation 1987
Arrived at eight years old at Olympique Lyonnais from FC Deux-Fontaines (Rhône), Rémy Riou, champion of France chicks in 1997, was from the famous generation of 1987, that of Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa or Loïc Rémy, champion de France U16 and U18 (2004, 2005) and pro reserves (2006).
With the first two, he was also European champion under 17 with the Bleuets (2004).
Read alsoBenzema, Nasri, Ben Arfa… How the 1987 generation missed its blue dream
But at the time, with Grégory Coupet and a very good N.2, Rémy Vercoutre, whom he found in Lyon as goalkeeper coach, Riou's future was blocked.
His career started in Lorient, during a loan (2006-2007).
Recruited as 3rd goalkeeper, he started in Ligue 1 (22 matches) with a victory in Marseille (1-0) taking advantage of an injury and a suspension of the first two goalkeepers.
Subsequently, he played in Auxerre (2007-2011, 52 matches) and Toulouse (2011-2012, 1 match) before fully blossoming in Nantes (166 matches between 2012 and 2017).
He participated in the club's rise in the elite, even becoming captain, before two mixed experiences at Alanyaspor (Turkey), then Charleroi (Belgium).
The postponement of the match in Lorient kept Rémy Riou a few more days in the shoes of a holder with three matches in prospect to play.
The story with his training club is therefore not over.
