Sage and Matic totally reassured by the leaders

Thomas Siniecki, Media365: published on Thursday November 21, 2024 at 3:34 p.m.

Nothing is really going to change at Olympique Lyonnais, at least not immediately, if you listen to the players on the ground.

Thursday took place the first press conference since the relegation of OL to Ligue 2 as a precautionary measure at the end of the season, pronounced last week in the middle of the international break. Coach Pierre Sage explains that very accessible remarks were made to the players, “because the economy is often very technical”. He certifies that there was no impact on training, “from the moment it was very clear and assumed by our management”: “On the contrary, there is a fairly pronounced desire to return to competition .” The Gones coach was waiting to see and he therefore saw, “no need to approach things from a different angle”: “The only important thing is to achieve our sporting objectives. I don't even know if there will be sanctions, for the moment they are threats. We are maintaining our ambitious line.”

Matic “doesn’t think everyone is for sale”

But what about the inevitable upheaval to come in January within the squad, since at least six players must be sold in order to meet the requirements of the DNCG? “Given our depth, it’s normal, we have 28 players and that doesn’t really change the plan, it’s necessary to reduce the group.” While already calling for balance to be respected, in short to strip away the overloaded attack rather than the far too limited defense. Pierre Sage remembers the last two markets (winter and summer) being shipped too much in panic, which will not be the case this time with this schedule already announced. “I have 100% confidence in my managers, and we are ambitious, we want to deliver good matches so that the public is happy. That motivates us, it will get us out of these things.”

The players are in unison, through the voice of Nemanja Matic who plays down the uncertainties of January in the short term: “This is the first time I have heard that everyone is for sale, we need a team to play (smile). I don't think that's true.” The Serbian midfielder also says he is confident in his superiors, two days before the restart in Reims (Saturday at 9 p.m.): “If there are problems, they will resolve them. We are players, we try to not to think about what does not concern us.”