Roughly speaking, it’s (almost) the match of fear for Olympique Lyonnais and Fabio Grosso. Last in Ligue 1, Les Gones host, this Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.), the antepenultimate, FC Lorient, on the occasion of the 8th day of the championship. A poorly ranked duel which could turn (almost) into drama, in the event of another defeat, for Fabio Grosso and his men, who are going through a sporting – and extra-sporting – crisis without precedent, at least in recent decades.
Indeed, with only two points on the clock, and a delay of four points on their opponents of the weekend – who are, for the moment, play-offs -, the Rhone residents could already be (a little more) behind…in the race to maintain. Because let’s be honest, despite the European ambitions (Champions League) displayed, and repeated, by their American owner John Textor, Alexandre Lacazette and his teammates must resolve (first) to fight for their survival in Ligue 1. Their results – five losses, two draws, and… no victories – and above all their performances – worst attack with three small goals scored, lack of depth of play – say a lot about their current difficulties.
However, probably to avoid putting additional (useless) pressure on themselves, the Lyonnais do not (yet?) prefer to think about maintaining. “I am focused on this match, to do my best and to the maximum. The rest, I leave it to you, I am not focused on the ranking, that will come later,” explained Fabio Grosso this Friday at a pre-match press conference. It is perhaps also a way of not facing reality.
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Despite everything, we will have to start opening our eyes to the catastrophic situation affecting Olympique Lyonnais. Because even the change of coach has not had the desired effect, at least for the moment. For his first time on the Lyon bench, the Italian technician, formerly of Frosinone Calcio, witnessed an unchallenged domination…of Stade Brestois, which finally won over the smallest of the brands (1-0), thanks to a goal from the opportunist Steve Mounié. The following week, against Stade de Reims, things were (a little) better. But the Gones still lost (0-2)…still without shaking the nets, and with, again, no inspiration in the game. Suffice to say that there does not seem to be any concrete improvement since the ouster of Laurent Blanc.
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It seems that the major problem plaguing the Rhône club is not a lack of skills on the bench, but a lack of desire and talent on the pitch. This is perhaps what Fabio Grosso observed, he who – like Laurent Blanc before him – appealed to his leaders to strengthen his group in the next transfer market. “If we increase the quality of the group, I will be happy. There is still time, it is not very important at the moment. If the president can give us players with quality…,” he told journalists.
For the moment, the executioner of the Blues during the 2006 World Cup final has not yet been criticized. Logically, he has just arrived. But in the event of a defeat this weekend, and especially if there is no clear progression in the proposed game, it could well be contested. And put on the spot? Given John Textor’s propensity to change coaches – he has just sacked Bruno Lage at Botafogo – this is a possibility that must be taken into account.
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And it is because the future of Olympique Lyonnais, and his own, is partly at stake this Sunday, that the ex-defender expects nothing other than a victory. “It looks like a crucial match but it will always be like that, it’s a historic club that is there to win. We work hard to win, we are ready,” he announced. Time for action.