Lyon (AFP)

Despite a series of eight games without a win in the league, Lyon opts for the positive attitude before going to face Benfica Wednesday in Lisbon in the Champions League, a competition that smiles more than Ligue 1 since the beginning of the season.

It was in Leipzig (2-0) on October 2 that Lyon won their only victory since August 16 and the lesson of realism imposed on Angers (6-0). They had benefited that evening of a success and a realism that fleeing frightfully in L1, like the draw conceded Saturday against Dijon (0-0).

Appointed a week ago in the place of the Brazilian Sylvinho, Rudi Garcia strove to emphasize the good things seen against Dijon, as the investment of his new team, possession of the ball against an opponent grouped in defense, and the number of shots.

He forgot the clumsiness of his attackers to better underline the performance of the goalkeeper, Alfred Gomis, not the first goalkeeper to shine against OL this season.

"For the players, it's important to be positive, we start from scratch even though there are nine days of play (in Ligue 1.) We have not been able to win at home and this is not satisfactory but we do not 'we will succeed only if we are able to play as we did after half-time, with movement, envy, simplicity in combinations,' insisted Garcia.

For his part, the sports director, Juninho noted "that players have responded with very good things."

- Aulas targets his players -

But while the technicians try to instill a new spirit and maintain positive morale for their team, President Jean-Michel Aulas handles the stick.

He points out that the players do not do enough to be at their best and joined, in this, the opinion of ultra groups of supporters.

"Some people disappoint me, they will recognize each other, they have to completely take care of themselves and recover," the OL boss pleaded, returning to the front line even though he defends himself.

The Brazilian Thiago Mendes, recruited in Lille this summer for 25 million euros, is one of the presidential targets.

Transparent since the beginning of the season, it is curiously still holder while it is far from compensating the departure of Tanguy Ndombélé.

The case of left-back Youssouf Koné, also from the Lille club, is similar. He was substitute against Dijon for the benefit of Fernando Marçal.

Recruitment Lyon, with an investment of 94 million euros, does not give the expected effects.

It can even be said that OL weakened in the transfer window by not compensating enough for the departure of three French internationals A, Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Ndombele (Tottenham) and world champion Nabil Fekir (Betis Sevilla).

While waiting for a reaction in the league, perhaps on Saturday against Metz, the victory in Leipzig had the merit of having placed OL, 17th in Ligue 1, in good position for a qualification in the round of 16 of the C1 with four points.

Especially after a draw (1-1) very disappointing against a team of Zenit Saint-Petersburg who had however appeared very weak in Lyon.

The Russian club has also relaunched itself by winning on the last day, at the expense of Benfica (3-1) who, after two initial defeats, will also play in the double against Lyon against a decisive card for his future in the event.

The two teams will meet again on November 5th in Lyon, an event definitely capital for the Olympique Lyonnais in search of confidence and recovery.

© 2019 AFP