As against Angers in Ligue 1 four days ago, Jérôme Boateng left the lawn headlong Thursday April 7, replaced after the hour mark (64th). The London Stadium, which hosted in front of 60,000 supporters the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League between West Ham and Olympique Lyonnais (1-1), did not see the best version of the German defender. Far from there. Boateng’s evening performance should continue to fuel discussions on his level, he the 2014 world champion who was still playing as a starter in the defense of Bayern Munich last season.
Already disappointing in his performance since the start of the season, the unfortunate Boateng is the ideal culprit on Jarrod Bowen’s goal, when the Hammers were playing outnumbered. At the time, Malo Gusto was the first culprit with his missed pass, but Boateng lacked control within the reach of a defender of his experience and paved the way for Bowen. Worse, his counter on the Englishman’s shot allows the ball to lob Anthony Lopes.
“professional misconduct“, assured the Lyon goalkeeper in a press conference after the meeting.A stupid goal“, for his part simply reacted Peter Bosz, the Lyon coach. The action left a mark, even if it did not cost OL a defeat. Last Sunday, during the narrow victory against Angers at Groupama Stadium (3 -2), Boateng had made a gross error on the first goal from Angers by forgetting to cut the trajectory of the ball at the near post.
2 – Lyon (2.5 xG) totaled 2 Expected Goals more than West Ham (0.5) tonight, while posting 43 balls touched in the box of the Londoners. Scuttling. #WHUOL pic.twitter.com/cHYpaYWGez
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) April 7, 2022
His trainer, Peter Bosz, may retort that he is returning to competition after several weeks on the flank due to a pubic injury. But the repetition of mistakes seems to reflect a deeper evil. With his status, his experience and all the titles he has won, Boateng is a natural leader within the Lyon squad. On several occasions, on the lawn of the London Stadium, we saw the German defender harangue and replace his teammates.
The desire to play is still there with the German, even if it means sometimes overdoing it. In February, he was removed from the group by Peter Bosz. The OL coach wanted to penalize his excessive nervousness towards his partners and a fight that had broken out with one of his teammates. Involved, Boateng is therefore. But what is obvious is that his body no longer seems to follow.
At 33, Boateng’s best years are most certainly behind him. And it shows on the field. The German struggles to finish fixtures and has only played the full 90 minutes of a game nine times this season. Absent several times for physical glitches since his arrival last summer, Boateng was also scared half an hour into the game, on a harmless contact.
Focus,Determination#WHUOL @JeromeBoateng #UEL pic.twitter.com/fNh9S16VBh
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) April 6, 2022
Instantly, the OL defender suffered the taunts from the side stand of the London Stadium, when the club’s physio strongly pulled his legs several times, as if to wake up his muscles. A trivial moment but rare enough not to question Boateng’s physical condition. Precious at the start of the season in construction thanks to his kicking game, the German no longer has the same contribution in this area.
While the young Castello Lukeba (19) has established himself as the real boss of the Lyon defense in recent months and Thiago Mendes helps out brilliantly in the axis, Boateng can ask questions about his role within the club at the end of the season. With Jason Denayer back after several months injured, Boateng’s place in the central hinge is far from assured for the next few matches. On the return, next week at Groupama Stadium, nothing says that Boateng will be on the lawn at the start of the meeting.