Present in the Lyon group during the Toulouse reception on Saturday evening, Thiago Almada did not play a single second. A decision which was surprising given the scenario, but which Pierre Sage quietly justifies.
Thiago Almada discovered his new playground this weekend, but the Argentine world champion has not yet had the opportunity to show his qualities to the Lyon public. If the former Botafogo player warmed up with his OL teammates, he never came into play, while Lyon couldn't get away with it against TFC. The 23-year-old waited in vain for a sign from the Olympique Lyonnais staff to make his big debut, but Pierre Sage preferred to keep him on the bench. And the OL coach easily explained why he did not want to throw Thiago Almada into the deep end just a few days after his signing with John Textor's club. For the Rhone coach, it was above all a question of not making his new player carry the whole weight of a match.
Thiago Almada will have to wait
Pierre Sage knew what the Argentine player's entry into play could trigger, and he did not want to take that risk. “ For me, it was difficult to bring him into a match like this, with what was at stake for him perhaps to change the match, to make us win it. He had few references with the group, little preparation, it was not relevant to bring him in, especially since the three players in the middle were satisfactory over time. I didn't want to make a change for the sake of making a change and have it judged negatively. The conditions and context were not met to facilitate its integration », Confided the coach of Olympique Lyonnais, aware that Thiago Almada must still wait before wanting to take on the mantle of savior of OL. The Argentine playmaker will also have to wait a little longer, since UEFA rules do not allow him to play with Lyon during this first phase of the Europa League, and in particular on Thursday against Fenerbahçe.
