from a “catastrophe” to an insane end to the season… How Pierre Sage allowed OL to claim a first title since 2012

After having validated an unexpected sixth place in Ligue 1, while still last in December, Lyon can lift its first trophy in twelve years at the end of the Coupe de France final against PSG on Saturday.

“Even if we wrote this script for Netflix, we couldn’t make it up. We can’t qualify this season, it’s a disaster that we’re turning into a dream.” The words of David Friio, the sporting director of Olympique Lyonnais, spoke volumes on May 19 about the performance achieved by the club over the past six months. Opposed to Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Coupe de France, they are aiming for their first trophy since 2012, Saturday May 25. A meeting which, in another dimension, probably more rational, could have saved a disastrous season.

Still bottom of Ligue 1 in December, when it only had seven points in fourteen days, OL not only managed to maintain their position – something no club had done with such a record – but also to achieve direct qualification for the Europa League during of the final day against Strasbourg (2-1), Sunday. The trigger for such a rise? His trainer, Pierre Sage.

Arriving as an interim on November 30 to succeed Laurent Blanc and Fabio Grosso at the head of a moribund team, the former director of the Gones academy managed to breathe new life into the club thanks to his psychology, long put to the test in the lower divisions of French football (in the district, then at Chambéry, La Duchère or even at Red Star as Habib Beye’s assistant).

“He’s not an old-fashioned coach who’s going to shake the players, yell at them. No, he’s more of an educator who knows how to place the words at the right time. He doesn’t get angry often and above all, he knows the Lyon school. The players took his humble speech positively.analyzes the former Brazilian defender Cris, of whom Pierre Sage was the tutor in 2014 when he was training to officiate on the benches.

Obviously, the weight of OL’s winter transfer window – estimated at 46 million euros by the specialized site Transfermarkt, the most expensive in Europe – helped a lot. Whether by bringing key pieces to the eleven type, like Nemanja Matic and Said Benrahma, or competition to executives who could no longer do it. But the credit largely goes to the 45-year-old Jura tactician, always wearing his tracksuit in the club colors.

“I think that mid-season, there was a real change in the way the coach managed the group. He was able to help us get back to having fun, which was essential. And with the arrivals, that the guys play or not, we formed a united group. Even when we were behind, we knew that the guys who were going to come in could turn things around.”, detailed Maxence Caqueret to L’Equipe on Wednesday. Rightly so since under Pierre Sage, OL took 22 points out of 46 after being behind, signing unreal comebacks against Brest (4-3), Monaco (3-2) and even Lille (3-4). .

A dynamic that will inevitably count when it comes time to appear on the pitch at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium on Saturday to challenge Luis Enrique’s team. The latter played the freshness card by granting rest to his executives since the elimination in the Champions League.

“Mentally, OL are better prepared for the final thanks to their state of mind. With the course in the championship and the crazy matches, the players are confident.”

Cris, former OL captain

at franceinfo: sport

On the evening of qualifying for the final at the beginning of April, while thousands of supporters invaded the lawn of Groupama Stadium to celebrate the victory against Valenciennes (3-0), Pierre Sage fueled the ambition of his troops by starting to talk about ‘a European place which still seemed inconceivable. A way to keep them mobilized until the end and to gain momentum until May 25, rather than settling for an anonymous place in the soft underbelly of Ligue 1.

“Our objectives have always been within our reach, that’s where Pierre Sage was good. He spoke to us about maintaining rather than talking about Europe when we were at the bottom. It was intelligent, we always set goals we believed in.”admitted Alexandre Lacazette, last Sunday after sending his team to C3 thanks to his 21st and 22nd achievements of the year (all competitions combined). Now the biggest challenge remains.

“This season is historic. But the objective is to make it historic with a capital H. We did not qualify to play in the final but to win this cup”specified the one nicknamed “Stone Wise” between Rhône and Saône, while its president, John Textor, announced for his part that he would continue the adventure with him next year.

The Lyonnais will have a lot to face Parisians who had already deprived them of a new trophy during their last finals (in the Coupe de la Ligue in 2014 and 2020) and who dominated them 4-1 at the Parc des Princes, with a reshuffled team, there is a month. What’s more with their defensive feverishness regularly displayed despite the series of successes (fourth worst defense in L1 in 2024). But nothing to worry about Cris, who won the last two French Cups in Lyon in 2008 and 2012: “With Lyon this year, anything can happen.” If the region is famous for its praline pastries, it is a cherry that Pierre Sage’s Olympique Lyonnais hopes to put on the cake.