In the meantime, the successor to Peter Bosz, sacked on Sunday, will start on the Lyon bench with two trips, to Rennes on Sunday (3:00 p.m.) then Montpellier before the reception of Lille.
Then will come a shock at the Vélodrome to challenge Marseille and a last meeting against Nice at the Groupama stadium, just before the Mondial-2022 (November 20-December 18).
But regardless of the calendar, OL, 9th in Ligue 1 with only 14 points in ten days, must take “a maximum of points over the next five matches before the break” as the champion has repeatedly hammered. world 1998 (56 years old), in a combative mood during his press conference alongside President Jean-Michel Aulas.
“The current urgency is to take points”, he launched, without dwelling on his personal situation, this long crossing of the desert since his departure from Paris SG in 2016.
“As time passes, we forget you but I think that OL have not forgotten me, so I am happy to respond positively to their requests, thanks to them”, he explained, refusing the qualifier of “revenge”.
– “Softness but firmness” –
To succeed in taking points, the whole challenge of the “President” consists in putting his workforce back in order of battle, in convincing him to make the necessary efforts.
“We are going to go about it gently but firmly,” said the new coach, “very happy to be in Lyon”, who conducted his first session on Monday morning and had the opportunity to watch the last two matches of the OL.
“The players feel the situation. They are aware that it does not reflect the objectives set and that they have to do a lot more. They are old enough to know that we have to perform a lot more. short but determined,” he said.
“In terms of play, you certainly have to be more efficient”, underlined Laurent Blanc, also referring to “individual and collective confidence” to be regained.
Before looking into the January transfer window, the former coach of Bordeaux (2007-2010), the France team (2010-2012) and PSG (2013-2016) has no other choice than to rely on the forces present.
– Priority to experience –
If the club intended to promote “OL DNA” this season with young people from the academy and the return of former players like Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, Blanc intends above all to bet, in the short term, on the experienced members of the group to relaunch his team.
“Unfortunately there are players who are unable to give what they should bring, especially the most experienced. It is up to them to pull the group up. And it is on them that I will mainly rely in the next few weeks even if there are quality young people,” he warned.
“You have to be on top physically, mentally, everywhere. This is not the case currently. It is up to us to ensure that with weekly work, this workforce regains confidence”, further analyzed the technician.
– No “magic wand” –
But Laurent Blanc, who noted that Olympique Lyonnais had great difficulty responding to physical intensity, does not intend to pass for a magician either.
“I’m not a sweet dreamer, someone who thinks things get better with the wave of a magic wand. My view of football hasn’t changed. It won’t be that hard to get players to buy into OL to my speech but it will take time and it is counted”, he insisted.
“If there is a good game and points, I will be the happiest but if there are only points, I will be very happy too. Secondly, there will be a philosophy to put in place,” White said.
First elements of response, Sunday against the Rennes of former Lyon coach Bruno Genesio.
