As the Montpellier reception on Saturday approaches, OL will begin a crucial month of January on several points. For now, smiles and good humor are out.
Georges Mikautadze assures him, “everyone is well and in good shape.“After eight days of vacation, the OL players began the second part of the season on Monday, December 30. On Thursday, January 2, the resumption took on another dimension with the return of the traditional pre-match press conference, and above all, a session open to fans which brought together 900 spectators.
A good start to 2025.”As long as football gives us smiles and good humor, we will keep this dynamic, a promis Pierre Sage. It is also necessarily linked to the results, in addition, today (THURSDAY)there was the public. Everyone was happy, there were a lot of children, and it's great, we're happy to start the year this way.”
OL are on target for their goals
Despite a less joyful end to 2024, between the Paris setback (3-1) and the qualification through the back door in the Coupe de France (2-1 on the field of Feignies-Aulnoye), the atmosphere is light above the band. It must be said that Olympique Lyonnais is today within the nails it had set itself. Fifth in Ligue 1, in the top 4 in the Europa League, he is preparing to experience a potentially exciting end to the year.
This will involve having a very good month of January. With seven posters to contest, the Rhone residents will not be idle. Even if on paper, the program is not insurmountable, they must be able to repeat the efforts every three to four days. “We will understand it as it (the calendar, Editor’s note) comes, anyway, we can't choose. It's not a question of ease or difficulty, it's more about us. We will have to perform well and be able to repeat this over time.“, supported the coach from Jura.
More rest for the January marathon
In order to best prepare for this “marathon”, which could stretch until March, Pierre Sage and his staff preferred to give Alexandre more latitude. Lacazette and his teammates during Christmas. “I added rest. This is why they benefited from a full week, whereas previously, we might have only taken three days“, explained the 45-year-old technician.
-A break visibly appreciated by the members of the workforce, although they did not remain inactive. “We enjoyed it with our families, but we also had a program to follow, Mikautadze recalled. Our return was a few days ago now. We have goals, including qualifying for the Champions League and going far in the Europa League.”
Manage the impact of the transfer window well
This will require success, and receiving the red lantern, in great difficulty, seems to be a good way to get back into the rhythm. “You saw what could have happened during our Coupe de France match. We must respect our opponents by making the match easier for ourselves. If we have opportunities from the start, we will have to seize them in order to to ensure that the opponent cannot enter his game, insisted Pierre Sage. It is with this logic that we evolve against opposition allowing us to have control of the game quite quickly.”
We will also have to juggle with the transfer window period. This is never easy to negotiate, especially since OL expects several movements, particularly in the direction of departures. But the Lyon coach affirms that he has “never felt demobilized“among less used boys.”I have the impression that they came back as they left, he observed. Everyone wants to apply to play, now, this month of January will probably give other perceptions to some. However, I don't get the feeling that they are training to fuel another team.“With a group of 24 outfield players at their disposal, the technical management has the choice in any case, and those possibly less concerned will remain on the sidelines.
