- Amazing against Juventus and even more against Manchester City, Houssem Aouar was able to rise to the level of the event during this final phase of the Champions League.
- Against Bayern, in the semifinals, he will still be one of OL's key elements if his team wants to compete with the Bavarian juggernaut.
- Before the meeting of Wednesday evening, small presentation of the palette of the 22-year-old midfielder, more than ever promised to a great future.
His irregularity can be annoying, but his astonishing propensity to raise his level when the pedigree of the opponent requires him to forget everything every time. Houssem Aouar delivered against Juventus and then Manchester City two managerial performances in the Lyon midfielder, forming with Guimaraes and Caqueret an “exceptional” triplet, in the words of Pep Guardiola. "If I have to say a name, for me, it's Houssem Aouar", added Kevin De Bruyne. Beautiful tribute from one of the most complete circles in the world. A circle that the interested party has ample means to integrate. Before the semi-final against Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening, we try to unroll the palette of the child of Villeurbanne. With the help of Gérard Bonneau, the former director of OL's youth recruitment unit.
- Balloon scraper
This is not the first area that comes to mind when we think of Aouar, but against Juve and especially City, Aouar was monstrous in recovery. Whether by cutting the trajectories to initiate the recovery or by setting foot where it is needed, he has often relieved his defense. However, it is not the tallest (1.70m) nor the strongest (70 kg), but its ability not to move on contact was bluffing. The supporters surely remember Lyon's first goal in Leipzig, in the group stage, where twice he went charcoal before letting Depay put it to the bottom (at 0'15 on the video).
Gérard Bonneau's opinion:
“I found him very strong physically, with a lot of freshness, over the last two games. Like the whole team for that matter. It surprised me a bit. Houssem, even though he seems fragile, has great physical strength. But there was something more, a different, very determined commitment. It's related to his mental strength, I think. He's a boy who behaves completely outside and on the pitch. He is friendly, smiling, but as soon as he enters the field he no longer has a friend. He is not afraid of anyone, he has the desire to always go further. He already had it when he was young, and I see that it stuck with him. He has a strong, almost mean, character during a game. We have the impression that he takes a strength from we do not know where ... (laughs) . "
- The art of openness
Even if he was surely aiming more Toko than Dembélé on the action which brought the goal of 2-1 Saturday, even if he redacted the last touch a little to launch Depay 20 minutes earlier and that for Cornet was not not a gift to control, the number 8 Lyon showed against City that he had a hell of a look. Normal, you might say, at his post. That's true, but some still hit their mates warming up along the sideline more often than their striker leaving on goal. Above all, Aouar manages to trigger cleanly after high intensity races or coming out of a complicated dribble, as is the case for Depay (0'40 on the video) and Cornet (0'49). Do not try at home, you could injure yourself.
Gérard Bonneau's opinion:
“He has a very good vision of the game, an incredible reading of events. To succeed in these openings, you need the vista and control. These qualities he has. And above all, he has concentration. It comes from his way of approaching games. He forgets everything that is going on around, he tries. Afterwards, he lacked a little physical strength to resist and put himself in a position to open the game. On that, he has evolved a lot in recent months. The staff did a good job, and he too individually. It's age, too. At 22, he reaches physical and physiological maturity. We feel that he has gained strength, it helps him to express himself. "
Bonus: Aouar's opinion himself on his approach to matches
- Technical finesse
The silky exterior of the foot, the easy dribble, the feint in the blood… Gone is a player of immense talent, everyone has realized this very quickly since his debut as a pro. He never says no to a small bridge that opens in front of him - does he Dybala? A technical skill which evaporates from time to time, when the team is not doing so well, but which always emerges in major meetings. At 22, Aouar still has time to gain consistency. In any case, he is one of those players for whom you do not hesitate to pay the entrance ticket.
Gérard Bonneau's opinion:
“This finesse is innate. And then, he has a great work culture, with the club's trainers, who are always very attached to the player's technique. That is essential in Lyon, the ability to work on technique through play. When you saw him at 12, he was already stronger than the others. What makes the difference between a good and a very good player is the technical quality. A great player must understand the game and then the difference is made on it. A great player can eliminate on his first touch, which Houssem can do. He creates shifts just with his ball grips, that's strong. And then they are facing forward. If he has space in front of him after his ball catch, he rushes in, he does not hesitate. It creates surplus numbers. It's his technical skill that allows him to do that. "
- The "signature" overflow on the left side
Carried along to all the positions in the middle, according to the inspirations more or less inspired by Genesio or Garcia, the number 8 of OL has quite often moved to the left in recent months. If that's not where he expresses himself best, he pulled off a sort of signature action, the double-trigger-overflow-where-I-pretend-to-stop-but -in-fact-no-you-saw-I-re-accelerate. The best example ? The goal offered to Depay against Benfica, in the pool (0'20 on the video). We do not forget either the center for the improbable left end of Tousart in the quarterfinals to go against Juventus.
Gérard Bonneau's opinion:
“This movement, which he appreciates it's true, is the symbol of the physical body he now has. He is a solid player, who has been spared from injuries, who works well. He took on another athletic dimension, I think, and that allows him to express himself. Its technical quality does the rest. Houssem worked out with his entourage a project to become a great football player, very quickly, very young, and he sticks to it. He put a lot of effort into the whole invisible part, the recovery, the hygiene of life, etc. He built a project for himself, a life around it, and today he has everything to succeed. "
- The coiled strike on the opposite side (Richard)
It is not known if the Lyonnais watched a lot of Thierry Henry's games as a child, but he has the same fake. As soon as the goal is at a respectable distance, he tries to roll on the opposite side. The comparison ends there, since the former Gunner was a goal machine and that is not Aouar's job. But the latter left a few strikes brushed into the club's legend, such as the one that had contributed to the completely crazy victory in Marseille (2-3) two years ago or the jewel that brought OL back into the game against Leipzig in the group stage in December (1'19 on the video). That said, it sometimes (often) lacks power, for a result to make Marco Verratti jealous. The Lyonnais still has a little work to do to make it his lethal weapon.
Gérard Bonneau's opinion:
“Yes, it's a little perfectible but it's normal, he is still young. This is not a weak point either. For me he doesn't. He scored a lot in the youth categories, he knows how to do. It will come more and more often, I don't worry. He's already a great player and he's going to be a very, very great. He's making an impression right now and I trust him to continue because he has a big mind. He knows what he wants, he has always known it. "
Sport
OL-OM: By "trying a lot more things", Houssem Aouar is definitely wearing the Lyonnais this season
- Bayern Munich
- OL
- Champions League
- Soccer
- Sport