Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)
Lyon finds itself in the emergency room: suddenly deprived of Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, injured for several months, OL are forced to find expedients to save a badly prepared season, with a rough eighth of the Champions League in sight against the Juventus. Is it serious doctor?
- Which team without Depay and Reine-Adélaïde? -
The serious knee injury of Depay, captain and best player in the squad, is a very heavy blow for OL, who have often depended on him in recent months: with five goals in five matches played in C1, the Dutchman (25) saved Olympique Lyonnais from being eliminated from the group stage.
In the league, he also scored nine times, making him the team's second goalscorer behind Moussa Dembélé (10 goals), who is currently out of action.
Reine-Adelaide (21) is perhaps the least disappointing rookie in the offseason. But he had, paradoxically, struggled to win in the eyes of Sylvinho and then Rudi Garcia, accumulating all the same three goals in L1.
While the two players will soon be operated, OL will certainly have to reinvent themselves with a role in the heart of the game granted to Houssem Aouar, rather than on one side as recently. With two shocks against Juve by Cristiano Ronaldo on February 26 and March 17.
"We have to move on, do without, we have no choice. We don't have time to lament because we have to qualify already, Wednesday against Toulouse in the League Cup. To face Juve, we will see with what numbers the two clubs will find, "said coach Rudi Garcia, who also deplores the long-term absences of Léo Dubois and Youssouf Koné, operated on a knee and ankle respectively.
- OL must activate the transfer window -
After missing its summer transfer window despite an investment of 88 million euros, OL have no choice: it will have to go on the offensive on the winter market.
Juninho said the club has been working on the subject for a month and announced Monday at the time of the draw for the C1, that "the club would seek to strengthen itself with one player per line with a leader profile".
"Between now and the game against Juventus, arch-favorite, we will have to solve our problems, improve our performance," he said.
Problem: in January, clubs can only make adjustments with players often in lack of playing time which it takes several weeks before regaining rhythm.
Which recruits could meet the profile outlined by Juninho? A striker like Olivier Giroud, in need of playing time at Chelsea? The site is open.
"We will discuss to see if there is a good opportunity, to balance and bring more experienced players, who know the competition and who are able to bring something to the locker room," said Juninho.
- A poor assessment of the workforce -
The Brazilian sports director admitted Sunday evening that Nabil Fekir or Tanguy Ndombélé were more decisive players than those currently in the squad. A way of saying that the team has weakened in recent months.
It is perhaps linked to the upheavals which agitated the sporting sector of the OL: departure of the trainer Bruno Genesio, of which the president Jean-Michel Aulas did not want to separate, arrival of Juninho who made questionable choices in recruitment, such as the arrival of the Brazilian midfielder Jean Lucas (Santos) who hardly ever plays (9 matches, never starting).
And Juninho's bet to appoint a compatriot, Sylvinho, to the bench came to an abrupt end, OL being forced to urgently appoint Rudi Garcia, who is struggling to raise the bar in terms of results.
In short, for the time being, all the strategic choices have turned out to be catastrophic. And the only good news of the moment, namely the qualification for the eighth of the C1, was overshadowed by incidents between players and supporters.
Lyon has two months ahead of it, and a capital transfer window, to present a better face against Juventus. "We are not allowed to make a mistake. We are going to watch the market but of course we are going to move in January," warned Juninho.
© 2019 AFP