There are unmistakable signs. When Jean-Michel Aulas frantically tweets after the setback for Olympique Lyonnais in Monaco last weekend (2-1), it means that the crisis is at the tip of his nose. “JMA” may well write that “defeat is unfair” or that his team made his “best game this season”the visit of Paris Saint-Germain to Groupama Stadium to the 8th day of Ligue 1, Sunday, September 18, is cause for concern. Results in the form of a mirage, an unclear sports policy, a discreet future owner, the danger seems general before challenging the Parisian ogre.
Because the team is having a sham start to the season
If with 13 points taken in seven days (four wins in a row at home), Olympique Lyonnais has made its best start to the year since 2018-2019, these first results invite measurement. In 2022-2023Lyon beat in its enclosure Ajaccio (2-1), Troyes (4-1), Auxerre (2-1) and Angers (5-0), four teams playing maintenance including two promoted.
At Groupama Stadium, OL’s last victory against PSG in Ligue 1 dates back to February 3, 2019. Since then, OL have lost three times (twice in the league, once in the Coupe de France) to a draw ( 1-1 in January 2022). The defeats in Lorient and Monaco, after already a miraculous draw in Reims, leave hovering the risk of chaining a third setback in eleven days.
Because Peter Bosz is under pressure
“To fart [Bosz] now has a requirement for results, because we have changed the workforce, the state of mind, a lot of things in agreement with him, and we believe that there is everything it takes to perform.” declared Vincent Ponsot, director of football at OL, in an interview with Progress Thursday. After the eighth place last season, the worst ranking for Lyon since 1996-1997, progress remains discreet. If the Gones have a better average of goals scored per game (2.29 this season against 1.77 in 2021-2022), that of goals conceded remains similar (1.29 against 1.34).
Facing PSG, who have won six of their seven Ligue 1 games since the start of the season, with the best attack (25 goals scored) and the best defense (4 goals conceded), Peter Bosz knows his team is facing a huge challenge. But “to pass judgment after Paris would not be relevant”, concedes Vincent Ponsot. According to the Lyon manager, his coach has “goals at the World Cup truce [après la 15e journée]“ and “others after the first leg [mi-janvier]“. A not-so-obvious roadmap. “To me he [Vincent Ponsot] said that you have to be on the podium at the end of the season, it’s different from before the World Cup” revealed Peter Bosz at a press conference on Friday. Internal turbulence could appear.
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Because the transfer window was incomplete
This has been a constant for OL in recent years: the Rhone club is struggling to retain and replace its best players. The transfer of Lucas Paqueta, in the last days of the summer transfer window, eclipsed the returns of Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazette. Same observation in central defense. While Jason Denayer left freely, the association of promising Castello Lukeba (19) with training midfielder Thiago Mendes (30) took the water during the last Lyon outings. Another illustration of an ineffective transfer window: the arrival of young Le Havre Saël Kumbedi (17) to compensate for the departure of Léo Dubois to Galatasaray, and to compete with Malo Gusto (19) for the right-back position.
Some executives like Moussa Dembélé and Houssem Aouar did not leave, forcing Peter Bosz to deal with too rich a workforce for a season without the European Cup.
Because the future boss remains very discreet
President-owner of OL since 1987, Jean-Michel Aulas must leave the hand to John Textor, who is supposed, via his company Eagle Football, to acquire the majority of the shares of the Rhone club. But since the joint press conference of the two men, last June 21, the American businessman is discreet, with the exception of an interview granted to The Team, August 1st. It remains to be seen whether Peter Bosz’s players will be able to bring together the “ingredients of tomorrow” to raise the bar today.
@OLIt is revealing or not! These are the ingredients of tomorrow! Let’s all be behind Alex, Coco and the group we will have a very good surprise on Sunday pic.twitter.com/H0iTq0cBKE
— Jean-Michel AULAS (@JM_Aulas) September 11, 2022