To absent subscribers. While OL probably said goodbye to the Champions League by bowing at home against Lens (1-2), no Lyon leader came to express himself against the microphones. That said, who hell could have come? John Textor? Absent, retained by other obligations. As if the fate of his flagship club was not a priority. The director general Laurent Prud’homme? In full dismissal procedure. Michael Gerlinger? It would have been surprising to say the least to see this almost unknown of the general public-football director at Eagle Football-speak for the first time in the Lyon situation.
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It is now alarming. Already threatened with administrative demotion by the National Directorate of Control and Management (DNCG) at the end of the season, Olympique Lyonnais had a “vital” need to qualify directly for the next Champions League. Only the podium in Ligue 1 could have allowed him to appear at the end of the championship in front of the financial gendarme with the promise of the jackpot linked to participation in the next C1.
Except miracle, he flew during this 32nd day, Lyon pointing four points from the head trio. And even if the fourth place, synonymous with preliminary towers, remains mathematically accessible, hope is tiny, suspended from too many external conditions so that one can believe it seriously.
“Football sometimes reserves incredible scenarios”
In this tense context, it is the players, and they alone, had to face in the mixed zone. In the absence of an institutional relay, it was their voices that have carried the analysis, imprint of an optimism of circumstance. Deputy coach Jorge Maciel sums up the group’s position: “We are not out of the race, but we have very complicated our way. With three teams to double two days before the term for this fourth place, to say the least.
But the Lyonnais hang on. “Certainness is that we no longer have our destiny in our hands,” concedes Moussa Niakhaté. But of course there is hope because football sometimes has incredible scenarios in store for us. “Same tone at Georges Mikautadze:” There are two games left (in Monaco and against Angers) and you have to do its maximum to take the six points. »»
The Georgian is already projecting himself towards the crucial deadline at the Louis-II stadium in Monaco: “We will have to win there and we will then see what will happen. “Moussa Niakhaté abounds:” By winning in Monaco next week, we can come back to a point and we will see what will then happen elsewhere. Everything is still playable. »Mathematically yes, but seriously who can still believe it?
OL’s probable sports failure will be that of John Textor. After having ousted in the same season his sports director (David Friio), his coach (Pierre Sage) and his director general (Laurent Prud’homme), the American will have to account. To the DNCG first. To the Lyon people then who risks rumbling very strong during the final day against Angers if by then the objective of the Champions League has soared definitively after the 33rd day.
: OL by the precipice and the financial crisis after its defeat against blood and gold){kind=link}