This Friday (9 p.m.), opening the tenth day of Ligue 1, Olympique Lyonnais faces Téfécé with the hope of ending its series of four defeats in a row.
To achieve this, the Rhone training will need its best elements and in particular its summer recruits.
While some have quickly established themselves as important in the Lyon workforce, others are still skating.
So, before this crucial meeting for the future of the club - and of Peter Bosz -,
Le Figaro Sport
was interested in the performance of the various players who arrived in the Rhône in the off-season.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
Saël Kumbedi, a bet on the future
If Olympique Lyonnais went to get him from Le Havre Athletic Club at the very end of the summer transfer market, for a million euros, it was not with the intention of integrating him directly into the rotation of the professional group. .
As proof, last Sunday, in the absence of Malo Gusto - injured - against Racing Club de Lens (1-0), the right side of only seventeen springs was not established on the right side of the defense. Lyonnaise, Peter Bosz preferring the Brazilian left side Henrique Silva.
The Dutch coach of Les Gones, whose options on the bench of substitutes were quite limited considering that certain elements, such as Jérôme Boateng and Houssem Aouar, were not yet quite ready on the physical level, the
despite everything launched into the grain bath of the French elite for the last quarter of an hour of play;
a real mark of trust.
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However, except in special circumstances, Saël Kumbedi's playing time with professionals should be minimal this season.
Its recruitment is part of a vision, at least, in the medium term.
Because the native of Stains is a real promising player, "a nugget" as we say today.
: he showed it so well a few months ago in the jersey of the France U17 team with whom he won Euro 2022 in Israel, notably scoring a double in the final against Spain.
However, if the Rhone team recruited him to prepare for the future, the fact that they currently have no viable alternative to Malo Gusto on the right side of their defense gives us the right to question ourselves. , on the one hand, on the relevance of its transfer and on the other hand,
Read also“We must show what we are capable of”: before OL-Toulouse, Bosz knows he is up against the wall
Alexandre Lacazette, a “general” in search of lieutenants
It is with the ambition to straighten out his training club that Alexandre Lacazette returned - free - to Olympique Lyonnais this summer.
Since the start of the season, the 31-year-old center-forward has (almost) fulfilled his role wonderfully.
Undisputed captain, he puts at the service of his team, and among others his youngest partners, his experience of the high level and his thirst for victory.
But he also leads by example through his individual performances on the pitch.
In nine league games, he already has four goals and one assist to his name.
Honorable statistics in view of the collective weakness released by the Gones in recent weeks.
Read alsoLigue 1: Lacazette (OL) has regained its voice
However, against Racing Club de Lens (1-0), last Sunday, "the general" gave way to signs of annoyance.
As if he was desperately looking for lieutenants – in addition to Anthony Lopes, still imperial – on whom to rely to revive the Lyon machine.
With the former Arsenal striker, the Rhone club has certainly offered itself a reinforcement of choice, on all fronts.
But his return pushes us despite everything, again, to ask ourselves questions about his sporting strategy.
On the one hand, because he inexorably pushes Moussa Dembélé, Lyon's top scorer last season with twenty-one goals, onto the substitutes' bench.
On the other hand, because it seems obvious that the Gones, since the departure of Lucas Paqueta, lack a creator in the
midfield capable of feeding a center forward known for his finishing qualities.
You just have to see the countless stalls made by the native of Lyon throughout a match to be convinced.
In short, his recruitment is a success but which could have been total with a better overall reflection.
SEE ALSO -
Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso are back at Olympique Lyonnais
Johann Lepenant, the nice surprise
He wasn't the most anticipated recruit, but he is definitely the most prominent.
Arriving in the Rhône on tiptoe from the Stade Malherbe Caen, for an amount of €4.25 million, the biggest investment in Lyon this summer, Johann Lepenant did not need time to adapt. .
The nineteen-year-old Norman took advantage of the absences in his playing area at the start of the season to make his mark (eight Ligue 1 matches), demonstrating physical, technical and mental qualities as well.
Read alsoLigue 1: Johann Lepenant already like a great in Lyon
And even if he still has to progress in certain aspects of his game to reach a plateau - he often shows reluctance, or neutrality, it depends, with the ball at his feet - he succeeded in the space of a few weeks to seduce all the Rhone people, coach Peter Bosz in the lead: “
We have often said that it was a surprise.
It's a surprise for me too.
He comes from Ligue 2 and at 19, you need time to adapt to this level.
But he adapted immediately
, explained the Dutchman this week.
He still has to improve on points.
It's not easy to play in a team that doesn't work and he's getting there.
" A great surprise.
Read alsoSenator players, faulty leaders, dangerous series ... How OL is sinking into the crisis
Nicolás Tagliafico, the right pickaxe
It is to be ranked among the satisfactions of the summer transfer market.
Nicolás Tagliafico was certainly not Gones' priority as a left-back, their initial choice being Tyrell Malacia, who left for Manchester United.
The fact remains that since August, the Argentinian has established himself as one of the most important elements of the Rhone workforce.
Rarely caught out defensively, he also showed, in certain sequences, good offensive qualities.
Moreover, he only needed two matches, and a confrontation against ESTAC (4-1), to unlock his counter in the Lyon jersey.
Read alsoLigue 1: "I am convinced that it is not the right solution to change" coach, loose Aulas after... having "thought" of firing Bosz
The ex-Ajax Amsterdam player is also essential for Peter Bosz because of his impeccable state of mind.
On the field, he is a real fighter, who puts aggression into duels and an intensity that is rarely found among his teammates.
A real duty player who only cost 4.2 M€.
This is called a good pickaxe.
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Corentin Tolisso, expectations and doubts
This is the enigma of the Lyon transfer window.
Since the beginning of July, and the formalization of his signature – free – at Olympique Lyonnais, Corentin Tolisso has not dispelled the doubts relating to his physical condition which surrounded his return to the Rhône.
On the contrary, he has, in spite of himself, exacerbated them.
For the moment, Peter Bosz is forced to manage his playing time, no doubt due to his lack of preparation but also because of minor injuries that are not very serious.
A bit more disturbing, when he is on the pitch, the twenty-eight-year-old midfielder appears borrowed, almost giving the impression that his physical qualities have flown away.
Read alsoLigue 1: barely arrived, Tolisso already in the infirmary
It is perhaps because he is no longer in possession of all his athletic means that he now feels more comfortable in a sentry position, as against Angers SCO (5-0), than more high, as torchbearer.
But until now, if we except the match against the Angevin formation, his coach has constantly made him evolve into number eight.
Which, again, raises questions.
Was his recruitment the result of a “simple” opportunity?
Or was it thought out according to the needs of the workforce?
However, despite his minor physical problems, the 2018 World Champion demonstrated, in certain sequences, that he could make a difference, in particular through his good transmission quality.
All that's left now is to string together matches, rev up and gain consistency.
if
Read alsoLigue 1: first match at 35 with his training club, the astonishing destiny of Rémy Riou in Lyon
Rémy Riou, experience above all
There is very little to say about him.
Having also returned to Olympique Lyonnais as an understudy for Anthony Lopes, Rémy Riou, aged 35, was first and foremost recruited - free - for the experience he could bring to a relatively young.
Except that at the start of the season, in the absence of the suspended Portuguese goalkeeper, the former Stade Malherbe Caen goalkeeper found himself on the front line.
However, his interim in the Rhone cages went rather well as he produced solid performances, thus allowing his team to garner ten points out of a possible twelve.
A useful and clever recruitment.