Olympique Lyonnais (3rd in Ligue 1) easily disposed of Angers (5-0) on Saturday.
One of the main satisfactions of the evening came from the controlled performance of OL midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in a more defensive register than in the previous four games.
To listen to the one who played 90 minutes for the first time in nine months, his fulfillment will come from positioning as number 6.
At OL Park,
It's been nine months, and a Klassiker won (2-3) in Dortmund, that Corentin Tolisso was running after his first meeting played in full.
The Lyon midfielder finally became a full-time footballer again on Saturday, with the blessing of a drowned Angers midfielder, which allowed him to regain his feelings in the heart of the game. Like his millimeter opening for Malo Gusto , at the origin of the goal of his friend Alexandre Lacazette (2-0, 32nd), "Coco" has rightly turned into the conductor of Peter Bosz's 4-3-3, to make the SCO dance almost end to end (5-0).
Because there was a big difference on Saturday: Johann Lepenant remained on the bench and the number 88 of OL abandoned this position of midfielder who had been his during the previous four Ligue 1 games. This tactical change contributed to fully bring out the qualities of vista and technical accuracy at the baton of the person concerned, like an Andrea Pirlo from Lyon.
Unsurprisingly, he confided that he enjoyed himself more in this position, where his performance contrasted with his procrastination or even his glaring lack of influence on the Lyon game during his appearances as number 8.
The reversal of Peter Bosz on the transfer window is explained
“As a torchbearer, I had a little more trouble with the rhythm and finding my bearings, because it had been a while since I had played in this slightly higher position, he admits.
Faced with fairly low teams and leaving little space between the lines, I found myself with my back to the game and it was a bit complicated.
I touched few balls and I had not managed to gain confidence.
Tonight, I felt better, more liberated.
I was able to try to direct the game, to find Alex [Lacazette] and to direct my comrades.
With the game in front of me, I'm more comfortable, at least at the moment.
»
It is probably no coincidence that Corentin Tolisso chained media releases on Saturday evening (mixed zone, Prime Video, OL Play), he had a clear message to pass: he sees himself in the shoes of a number 6 and no longer like the number 8 he was during his first professional tenure in the OL jersey (from 2013 to 2017).
Well, wouldn't we have just solved the mystery of Peter Bosz's big communication gap on the transfer window.
Judge instead:
July 16: “If we want to continue playing in 4-3-3 with only one 6, then yes, we are looking for a sentinel.
We have players in the squad to play with two 6s. But to play with a single 6, we only have Johann [Lepenant].
We absolutely need a second player who plays in this position.
Corentin [Tolisso] is not there for this position, he will play higher”.
August 29, when no other recruits had signed in the meantime in the middle and Lucas Paqueta was about to commit to West Ham: “An additional defensive midfielder?
No not right now.
Not for me ".
"He showed that he could also play in 6"
A turnaround which seemed to be explained by an update from the Aulas-Ponsot-Cheyrou trio as to the club's desire not to invest more this summer.
But Corentin Tolisso confided on Prime Video on Saturday that he had "spoken with the coach": "In this system at OL, you have to be able to turn around quickly as a torchbearer, that's not my main quality and I don't I wasn't necessarily comfortable in that position".
Given his status as a flagship recruit of the transfer window and vice-captain (but also world champion and winner of the Champions League), there is little doubt that the 28-year-old French international (and 28 selections) has a say in its use.
Now accustomed to a central position in a 4-4-2 at Bayern Munich, he therefore obviously knew how to convince Peter Bosz to return to his announcement in mid-July.
🎙 Les Gones Antho Lopes and Coco Tolisso were at #OLPLAY after the victory against Angers (5-0).
📱 https://t.co/ZkaxHWqy6N pic.twitter.com/VOYeGIQBMc
– Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) September 3, 2022
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"I continue to work in training and I will play where the coach tells me to play," he slips nevertheless.
“We know the very good versatility of Corentin, also praises his young partner Castello Lukeba.
He brings us a lot, whether in 6 or 8. His role was different tonight and he showed that he could also play in 6. " We would also bet that we will see him now especially in this register.
But the main thing was almost elsewhere on Saturday evening: all Lyon supporters were reassured for good about the state of health of this key player, whose offseason had been disrupted, just like the four previous years.
"I have spoken a lot with the OL doctors since my arrival in July," he said on OL Play.
We try to establish a strategy so that I manage to chain the most matches in full.
There, I feel good.
We'll see if I can go on Wednesday in Lorient but I mustn't go too fast.
I know all the physical worries I had.
“We hardly dare to imagine how much caution will be required this season about him.
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Sport
Soccer
Olympique Lyonnais (OL)
Corentin Tolisso
League 1
Lyons
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Angers SCO