Like the center forward position, OL have shown for several weeks that competition within the group is pulling everyone up. Today, Pierre Sage has credible alternatives in several positions.
Last season, when he had to save the club then obtain an unexpected place in the European Cup, Pierre Sage relied heavily on continuity. Making few changes in his 11 from one game to the next, he also relied on the starters who contributed enormously in the final minutes. For this financial year 2024-2025. The situation is different, and the competition for a starting place is much stronger.
The Rhone coach must indeed juggle a large squad, as well as the weeks of the Europa League where the posters follow one another. The turnover is therefore logically greater, and it seems to be bearing fruit during the last outings.
Lots of changes from 11…
By very rarely fielding the same team, and especially never twice in a row, Pierre Sage involved as many elements as possible. There are eleven of them to have played at least half the minutes in Ligue 1 and C3 (i.e. 810). Four have exceeded 700 minutes in 18 games since the start of the season.
A point which favors emulation, even if it took time to work better. We can thus highlight the poor performances against Toulouse (1-2), Auxerre (2-2) and Hoffenheim (2-2). “I was criticized at one point, because it prevented us from stringing together collective performances of a good level, but also because the pace of those who came in and did not continue was not up to par. our needs. Over time, it makes its way, rejoiced the 45-year-old coach. We are satisfied with that and that is also reflected in the epidemiology: we have no injuries.”
…But fewer radical rotations
It is true that apart from a few glitches here and there, including Saïd Benrahma Currently, Olympique Lyonnais has no reason to complain about the filling of the infirmary. The result of visibly intelligent management on the part of the staff, even if it may have cost points at one point.
We also note that the changes in 11 are a little more diluted recently. We are far from the caricature of traveling to TFC with eight new players. We also notice that there are numerous qualitative solutions at several positions, among the full-backs, on the wings, and even in the midfield, although Tanner Tessman and Maxence He would lie down do not currently have the performance of the incumbents.
The example of competition among the 9
Even among the number 9s, the last rotations seem to have freed Alexandre Lacazette and George Mikautadze. Last week, one signed a hat-trick, responding to the other's double. “We said it at the start of the year. If one scores, he pushes the other to perform better. Today it is. On the other hand, what you shouldn't do in my opinion is to align them both. A balance has been found in the tactical system, insisted our consultant Enzo Real In As long as there are Gone. It's working well for the moment, we must continue like this with real choices based on match profiles. Maybe in the future it will be possible to start them together, but not for now.“
A management which could sometimes have piqued some boys, but which testifies to the standards that Pierre Sage wishes to establish. “It's not always easy to stay on the bench. Some get more playing time than others. It's up to us to respond every time the coach calls on us“, explained captain Lacazette. A method which a priori is bearing fruit, OL having lost only one of their last thirteen games, for eight wins and four draws in all competitions.”Competition is good for everyone, regardless of position: goalkeeper, midfielder, center forward. She pushes everyone up“, stressed Nicolas Puydeboisformer Lyon goalkeeper.
Positions still uncertain
If questions still exist on this subject, particularly in the central hinge, the Rhone formation is on the right track. The reassuring appearances of Warmed Omaridespite a short playing time (187 minutes, three matches), could also resolve this questioning around central defenders. In the meantime, it is indeed a group, and not just an 11, which is preparing to play the last crucial meetings of 2024.
