What is the value of a penalty in stoppage time, when his team is down 4-0? To believe the behavior of Lucas Paqueta, Sunday, November 7, against Rennes, it seems huge. It allows Lyon to slightly reduce the gap of a heavy defeat, to inflate the personal stats of the Brazilian (6 goals in 17 games this season) … and to expose to the eyes of fans of Ligue 1, a new scrambles.
We play the 92nd minute of play, when Lucas Paqueta collapses in the Rennes penalty area. While the Lyon striker is on the ground, his defender, Emerson, grabs the ball, which Houssem Aouar, the regular shooter, hastens to recover. With the ball in his hands, the latter goes towards the penalty spot, but finds on his way … Lucas Paqueta. The two men parley, soon joined by teammates. After great discussions, it is finally, the Brazilian who recovers the ball, and the penalty.
⚽️ @ LucasPaqueta97 reduced the penalty gap!#SRFCOL pic.twitter.com/kzXga2d946
– Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@ Ligue1UberEats) November 7, 2021
“Normally I am the one appointed but I felt that he (Package) really wanted, Houssem Aouar explained to our colleagues from RMC Sport. In the end, I gave in and gave it to him. Honestly, there is nothing at all. We get along really well and we shouldn’t make a deal on this stuff. “
“We have seen this often, it is not new, it is even things that happen with the ego of players in high level football, tempers Éric Roy, consultant for Franceinfo: sport. In this case, that characterizes the Lyonnais match, where we had the impression that they were not in unison. Certainly Aouar was appointed and, from the moment instructions are given in the locker room, there is no reason to want to change. Especially since this penalty is useless, apart from personal statistics “, he explains.
“In Lyon, we have to ask ourselves the question of whether we are more in the collective or personal project.”
Eric Royto franceinfo: sport
In front of the press, Houssem Aouar assured that the two players had discussed in the locker room at the end of the match, thus confirming that the quarrel was only short-lived. As proof, if he had reluctantly surrendered this penalty, Aouar then generously applauded the reduction of his team’s gap.
Passed by Nice, as coach then sporting director, as well as at Lens and Watford in these same functions, Éric Roy continues: “You don’t necessarily have to react hot. The next day or the day after, we make sure to talk to the two players: either we summon them, or we talk to them during a training session, without it being anything. Sometimes it’s no use adding more. But you have to make sure that it doesn’t leave traces, that’s the most important “.
Stuck in the soft underbelly of the championship, the Lyonnais hope that this heavy defeat and the quarrels between players will not stop the end of the year. A first element of response should arrive after the international break, against Marseille, on Sunday, November 21.