With almost three goals conceded per game over the first three days, OL do not really look like a fortress. He worked to remedy that before Lens, we will see if it has borne fruit.
When John Weaver spoke about the Champions League and the title on Wednesday in front of the press, he must certainly have had in mind that OL is improving defensively. Because with an average of 2.7 goals conceded per game during the first three days (Rennes, Monaco and Strasbourg), it is hard to see how his club could play anything other than the middle of the table, or at a pinch 6th place, if the attackers are in good shape.
Pierre Sage did not hide it, “It’s a construction site“, and Olympique Lyonnais cannot ignore it.”We worked with the players concerned on Friday morning. This should allow us to better manage the games over time and avoid any gaps, he confided. In a defensive situation, we have not reached our cruising speed, we still have a level to reach.”
OL does not want to relive last season
This lack of balance is not new, we had already observed it during the 2023-2024 season that the Rhone players finished with 55 goals in their bags. If they want to return to the biggest competition, the C1, they will not be able to match this performance, knowing that they started on a basis of 91 goals currently. Of course, the sample remains very short, but it is enough to raise questions.
Even recruits, like Moussa Niakhateseem to have realized that things had to be rectified very quickly.This is way too much, it is not in our standards. It is normal that we (the defenders, editor’s note) be targeted in these situations. It’s up to us to improve, to analyze, to exchange, to find solutions. But I’m confident for the future, it’s a new defense, and in preparation, we had been rather solid, observed the Senegalese international. These are cycles, this is the history of football.”
A way to press to review
Asked about the explanations he could give for these collective wanderings, the Jura coach provided some initial insight.It’s not really related to the team block, but rather to what motivates the boys individually. Against Strasbourg, our pressing was too focused on the individual and not enough on the spaces. We want to press in the zone, which we worked on at the beginning of the week, while still taking charge of the opponent in certain specific areas of the pitch, he detailed. The goal is for the elements least concerned by the action to take charge of covering the space. This is the gap that we must overcome to be more effective in this area.”
More than a question of scheme and men used, it would therefore be a question of a concern for tactical understanding which would explain the boulevards between the midfield and the defensive line which we see appearing very/too frequently. A point which seems to be able to be resolved with work, especially since listening to Niakhaté, the squad “trusts the staff to find the best formula to win the weekend“. “He chooses the 11, and it’s up to us to carry out their instructions on the field.“, continued the former Nottingham Forest footballer.
Reduce the number of individual errors
Beyond the raw statistics on OL’s poor start to the championship in this sector of the game, it must also be emphasized that Lucas Perri was sometimes not helped by frankly avoidable individual errors. Of the eight goals conceded, at least four (two in Rennes and two in Strasbourg) were mainly due to unforgivable mistakes at this level of competition. “I would have preferred that we didn’t concede three goals and that we didn’t have to score four to win. But it’s us, our group, and it’s also good that we’re capable of doing it. It’s only the start of the season, but we’ll have to correct that. We have to try to minimise mistakes, be more focused over 90 minutes.recalled Niakhaté. If we can find stability over time, things will be better.”
So to test yourself, what could be better than a trip to Lens, in a Bollaert stadium conducive to excitement and offensive flights.Knowing that last year, we had already conceded three goals there (3-2 defeat). It is therefore a team with a certain offensive power, even if things have changed since then. We must progress in this area, it is obvious, to have better control of all our matches. We have had confirmations on the attack plan, but we must grow on the defensive aspect, Sage agreed. We give up a lot of opportunities when we lose the ball.“Against the Lensois, this will not forgive.
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