«
For Europe, it's grated, "admitted Laurent Blanc after the defeat against Clermont (2-1) last Sunday. Lucidity or defeatism. Both. Certainly, one more than the other. Seventh in Ligue 1 three days from the end, OL are three points behind Rennes (6th) and four on Lille, fifth and last European qualifier. For Lyon, Europe always seems further away but the stakes remain numerous.
To discover
- Ligue 1 schedule and results
- Ligue 1 standings
Tiny hopes and places of honor
This Friday, Olympique Lyonnais receives AS Monaco (21pm) at the opening of the 36th day of the championship. A victory at home would allow Les Gones to keep slim hopes for a European qualification. "We know that it will be very difficult (to qualify for Europe, editor's note) because we have toasted wild cards, assumes Castello Lukeba. It's up to us to transform ourselves to get the nine points from the last three games. We are quite a few points behind. The goal is to win these three games. We'll do the reckoning at the end." After this match, Laurent Blanc's players will receive Reims before going to Nice for the last day.
Three last crucial games for the Gones who must collect points, under penalty of plummeting in the standings. Failing to play Europe next season, Lyon must fight for places of honor in Ligue 1, synonymous with greater revenues for the club. And right now, every euro counts. OL must remain a minimum attractive if they want to be able to recruit this summer. Especially since the Rhone club will face many departures. Jerome Boateng, Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembélé will leave free. Malo Gusto will definitely join Chelsea. "The transfer window is a very important period. It is the construction of a group, assures Laurent Blanc. We have players on loan who will come back. You have to think carefully and answer fundamental questions: where you want to go and how you want to get there.
»Young people and recruits must show up
Other players, coveted by more upscale clubs, could also leave the club to seven consecutive France league titles (2002-2008). Castello Lukeba, Maxence Caqueret or Rayan Cherki could leave their training club and allow it to make a nice added value. "In the France championship, it's difficult to compete. If a big European club arrives on a player, it's tricky, blows the Lyon coach. Very few clubs can afford to say no. French football has more and more resources. But in the transfer market, it is difficult to resist English clubs for example.
»At the end of the contract or on the departure, many players have every interest in showing themselves at the end of the season. This is also the case for young people who could scratch even more playing time. "When I arrived in October, there was a plethora of people," insists the 1998 world champion. We had to make decisions during the transfer window. Everyone said there were good young guys but they didn't play. We decided to make room for them to see if they had quality. We took a risk, and we had to take it. This allowed us to confirm or not some potential, and to live better within the group.
»Preparing for reconstruction
Other players have played less this season and must take advantage of it to convince the coach and make a better place. This is particularly the case of Jeffinho, always interesting but very often on the bench. Also recruited this winter, Amin Sarr has not convinced much since his arrival in France. Only one goal in 13 games. Little to his advantage in recent weeks, Sinaly Diomandé also has the opportunity to reassure.
Recruits have to perform. Young people could show up. However, it will not be against Monaco, Laurent Blanc having chosen not to call any youngster from the reserve but to resummon Jerome Boateng. The end of the season of the club which must now do without Jean-Michel Aulas has its presidency - "We can only thank and honor him for all the work he has done. Before the Clermont game, we thought it would be great to win for him. We are sorry not to have done it, "regrets Castello Lukeba - remains exhilarating on several levels. OL must now show that they have courage, desire and continuity in ideas. And this is perhaps ultimately the most important for a club in reconstruction.