Two defeats in Ligue 1 to start 2024 and Lyon is back in 16th place and in a play-off position.
Enough to remind OL and their owner John Textor that maintenance was still far from being achieved in this season of all nightmares.
In a long interview given to L'Équipe, the boss of the Rhone club tried to reassure his troops.
“The team is improving every day.
Even if this must earn me strong criticism, I repeat that OL is not a club that is going downhill,” John Textor assured our colleagues.
The owner of OL still did not hesitate to criticize a few players, without naming them, after the defeat at Rennes this weekend (2-3): “During the first period, I had opinions firm on our collective decisions and on the lack of ambition, pace and work of some of our players.
But it really wouldn't be appropriate for me to express my opinions publicly.
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Sage confirmed, a crazy end to the transfer window?
But the OL boss believes in it and doesn't hesitate to talk about Europe either.
If Lyon is in the round of 16 and therefore still in the race to win the Coupe de France, the “Gones” are still 14 points behind Reims, 6th, in the championship.
“There is no question
of a probable absence of qualification
in our locker room, because we are stronger every day,” he did not hesitate to say.
To do this, John Textor renewed his confidence in Pierre Sage, his interim coach until the end of the season.
“He is a good manager, with a good spirit, and an excellent teacher.
His long-term vision is excellent.
(…) He is also respected by our players.
This is enough for us to achieve our ambition of climbing the rankings.
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⚽️“OL is not a club that is going downhill”
An interview with John Textor, owner of OL, to be found today in @lequipe!
📲https://t.co/0NFjgZWJOs pic.twitter.com/xn8OlSmqdu
— L’ÉQUIPE Pro (@lequipe_pro) January 30, 2024
To the point of seeing him stay at the end of the season?
“If Pierre continues to teach but also learn, then I see no limit to what he can achieve as a coach.
It’s up to him to decide,” replies the OL boss.
John Textor is also counting on final arrivals in the winter transfer window: “a winger, a defender… And perhaps another midfielder”.
“With three days to go, it’s true that it’s difficult to be satisfied because we still have some outstanding priorities… We would like more experienced players who bring the same experience and the same leadership as Matic,” said recalled the one who is also the owner of Botafogo.
To remedy this, Textor confirmed that OL had indeed “submitted significant offers” for Villarreal winger loaned to Everton Arnaut Danjuma and West Ham winger Saïd Benrahma.
Without success so far.