Takeover by American businessman John Textor, transfer window to strengthen and state of mind to change: January promises to be decisive for Lyon, only 8th in Ligue 1 before moving to Brest on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.).
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Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
OL are far from their initial objective: to return to the Champions League, which they have not played in since 2020 and which is essential for them to maintain their lifestyle.
No more time to waste
Lyon is fifteen points behind Lens (2nd) and ten over Rennes (3rd) and has no time to lose, even to hang on to the Europa League or the Europa League Conference, which would be seen as very meager consolations.
“
The race for points starts on Wednesday.
We had time to prepare, like others, but I think Lyon needed it more than some
, ”said Laurent Blanc at a press conference on Monday.
If the 1998 world champion who succeeded the Dutchman Peter Bosz, sacked on October 9, does not spare his players, he has also placed his leaders before their responsibilities.
“
There is a transfer window that will open.
I don't demand anything at all.
I tell my owners, my managers who are receptive, that if we want to achieve the objectives set, we have to improve the group, that's all.
It is fundamental to recover a better place than the one currently occupied
, ”he insisted.
A transfer window that came at the right time
On December 19, Jean-Michel Aulas, who is to remain executive chairman for three years, had also confirmed that “
OL, depending on the needs, would participate in the transfer window with the new (financial) possibilities that came later than we imagined it
”.
“
You have to make sure you take players who have the mentality, the way of playing football that can save you ground and time.
It's a question of quality in the state of mind, the technical level and the experience
”, insisted Laurent Blanc.
Thus, this summer, the club's decision-makers underestimated the inexperience of the defensive line where the German Jérôme Boateng (34), supposed to be a leader, is far from his best years spent at Bayern Munich.
“
Inexperience is a fact behind which we do not hide.
But if we could improve that, that would be great.
We have been working on it for some time
, ”assured the former coach of the Blues, also evoking “
a lack of character
”.
The needs are targeted but recruiting well will be a must to save the season.
"
We have a quality group, we must add a little what we lack
," he concluded.
