Olympique Lyonnais were held in check on Sunday in the derby against AS Saint-Etienne (1-1) and point to a disappointing 10th place in Ligue 1. However, the hope of a great season remains.
The penalty transformed by Wahbi Khazri in the very last moments of the derby can give OL players enormous regret. As so often this season, Peter Bosz’s men played well but did not achieve the desired result. At the end of the 9th day of Ligue 1, Olympique Lyonnais could not do better than a draw with Geoffroy Guichard against AS Saint-Etienne (1-1), last in the championship. Like their previous meetings, the Rhone dominated, product of the game, but were once again joined at the end of the match on new arbitration decisions against them (the expulsion of Anthony Lopes and the penalty conceded by Jason Denayer). While a victory would have allowed them to get back on the podium, the Gones point to an anonymous 10th place.
Between Rhône and Saône, we do not worry about it more than that. Jean-Michel Aulas continues to affirm it, he firmly believes in the “method Peter Bosz», Convinced that the work done will pay off in the end. If the former Ajax coach obviously has his share of responsibility, just like his players, there is an important factor to highlight: success. Which is currently sorely lacking at the Lyon club.
OL generally get many chances but are struggling to convert them. Conversely, the slightest opposing attempt very – too – often hits the mark. And then, in this start of the championship, all the elements seem to be against the Lyonnais. A series of complicated matches in a short time, a mess of injuries (Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Moussa Dembélé and Islam Slimani) but above all refereeing decisions which are making a lot of talk.
In VAR and against all
In recent times, recourse to the VAR has systematically turned against the Gones. The imaginary penalty awarded to Neymar by Clément Turpin during PSG-Lyon (when the Brazilian had previously fouled Malo Gusto); the amazing yellow card given to Lucas Paqueta by Stéphanie Frappart because he had the misfortune of attempting an acrobatic technical gesture against Troyes; the very severe decision of Bastien Dechepy to expel Emerson at the start of the match against Lorient (although the contact seemed very light); and therefore the derby where François Letexier decided to exclude Anthony Lopes, rightly so, but at the same time “forget»To give a second yellow card to Mahdi Camara for his gross fault on Karl Toko Ekambi.
Nothing says the results of these matches would have been any different if other decisions had been made, but Lyon’s frustration can be understood. Yet rewarded for his fair play when he officiated in Germany, Peter Bosz strongly criticized the refereeing after the match against Lorient (1-1), something he has always forbidden to do during his career. : “The feeling is bad. I don’t understand things here anymore. When I see what happened with Houssem Aouar three days before (opposite Troyes). He was all alone, I saw a yellow card. And there, Jason Denayer is well placed, and it’s red. I do not understand “. But despite this complicated period, there are more reasons for satisfaction than worry.
OL ready to roar again
There is obviously no “complot anti-OL“. The lack of luck, of success, the contrary decisions …, all this will end up turning out well. And in terms of play, Olympique Lyonnais is in very clear progress. The main recruits (Emerson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Jérôme Boateng) are integrating better and better, the young guard is full of promises (Malo Gusto, Rayan Cherki and Sinaly Diomandé), the Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta impresses in the middle and the the proposed forward-facing style of football is very pleasing to the eye.
If in the championship Peter Bosz’s men still fail to take off, it is important to point out that they are only 3 points from the podium. It is therefore far too early to draw conclusions on the Dutchman’s record at the head of OL. And then in the European Cup, top priority displayed by Jean-Michel Aulas this season, everything is going for the best. The Rhone are currently at the top of their Europa League group with two wins in as many matches.
It should not be forgotten either that the Lyon club is going through a real revolution this season. A renowned foreign coach has arrived, with his ideas and his playing principles. All of this takes time to put in place, but Olympique Lyonnais is on the right track. Especially since if Lucas Paqueta, who is perhaps currently the best player in Ligue 1, continues to display such a level, we really do not see what could prevent OL from shining again.
.
