With his hat-trick against Dijon, Memphis Depay became the top scorer in the history of Parc OL on Friday, ahead of Nabil Fekir. - Philippe DESMAZES / AFP

  • In the wake of Memphis Depay, author of a hat-trick (including two penalties), OL proved convincing to beat Dijon on Friday (4-1).
  • Always so determined, the Dutch striker is gradually recovering from his rupture of the anterior ligament of the left knee. But one year from the end of his contract at Lyon, his future remains uncertain.
  • His creativity and his rage still seem essential in order to allow OL to regain the Champions League from next season.

At Parc OL,

Memphis Depay burst into laughter on Friday evening when a journalist called him “the superstar of the evening” after his hat-trick against Dijon (4-1). Not sure that the former Manchester United winger, attacking leader of the Dutch team, can associate this term with a ride in August against a weak Ligue 1 team, in front of 5,000 spectators. Our colleague could have been influenced by the look of the person concerned, arrived in the auditorium of the Parc OL with a chain more flashy than ever and worn ... on his jersey in the colors of the club.

Memphis Depay, with his legendary sobriety Friday in the auditorium of the Parc OL, after his hat-trick against Dijon. - Jérémy Laugier / 20 Minutes

Memphis is still so elusive, but also frank and lucid when commenting on his third hat-trick in the Lyon jersey since his arrival in January 2017: “I think it was not my best game here but I am very happy to have scored three goals, that's my job ”. Because we were first entitled, as in the final of the League Cup and the Champions League, the discreet and borrowed Memphis trying to recover from his serious knee injury.

"For 35 minutes, we did not see him", room Rudi Garcia

Then there was this heat stroke at the end of the first period, with a double, including a clinical sequence, and the goal against his camp of Lautoa provoked at the cost of a devilish dance step with Ngouyamsa, to overthrow Dijon before the pause (from 0-1 to 3-1). "A coach should not give too much praise, so for 35 minutes, we did not see him," Rudi Garcia smiles. But for ten minutes, he made the difference and the top players are there for that, and that has helped us a lot. "

Great way to start the new competition! pic.twitter.com/oJZQlTNgNF

- Memphis Depay (@Memphis) August 28, 2020

One year from the end of his contract, will Memphis Depay be called upon to help OL beyond October 5 and the end of the transfer window? “I am currently focused on Lyon,” he says. You know, I'm glad to be back. I take great responsibility here. The club has given me a lot of freedom and respect and I'm doing my best in return. “Half-word, the 26-year-old does not hide that the recent appointment on the Barça bench of Ronald Koeman, his now ex-coach, could be a game-changer.

I have yet to speak with Ronald Koeman. He got involved in my rehabilitation by coming to see me in Rome and the Netherlands. Our relationship is good and now he is the coach of Barça. I'm in Lyon for the moment, I can dream of big clubs, we'll see what happens. "

Not playing the European Cup "cannot be an advantage"

In the meantime, Memphis Depay has offered himself a little extra line in the history of the Lyon club by becoming the top scorer in the history of Parc OL on Friday, ahead of Nabil Fekir. While not trying to deny that "it's frustrating not to play the Champions League", he wants to break the Franco-French cliché about the good seasons allowed thanks to a reduced calendar because without the European Cup, as was the case in 2014-2015 for OL (2nd to 8 points from PSG).

Should the "unifier" Memphis Depay remain the leader of this OL? https://t.co/dcyzkGRBMH

- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) July 30, 2020

“It can't be an advantage because the advantage is always to play matches at the highest level. This is how you improve as a team. You develop self-confidence and experience. You can grow up in a tournament like we saw recently for us. "

"We have shown that we can compete with PSG"

The Maxwel Cornet of Dijon was indeed not that of City, to take the most brilliant example. An arch-disappointing 7th in L1, about to lose three of his best players (Aouar, Dembélé and therefore Depay), can he seriously finally compete with PSG in the league?

He is heeeeeeeere 🔥🔥🔥

He scored 3 goals in # OLDFCO and he has a message for you !!! @Memphis 👉🦁👈 pic.twitter.com/L1v7yC2jVN

- Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) August 28, 2020

"That must be our ambition, that's why I came to Lyon," replied the Dutchman with aplomb. We showed that we could compete with them as in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. But we must above all win the smallest matches in Ligue 1. “Able to transcend from the first day against a modest team like Dijon, the captain has just shown the way forward, once again.

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