Alexandre Lacazette warming up before OL – OM (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)
With a team largely reshuffled on Thursday in the Europa League, Pierre Sage chose to arrive in the derby with maximum ammunition. Victory against Saint-Etienne is now more than imperative for OL.
A derby is not played, it is won. This saying has existed since the dawn of time in the capital of Gaul, but has taken on a little more importance since Thursday evening and the draw at Hoffenheim (2-2). By choosing to completely remodel his starting lineup, Pierre Sage clearly sent a message and he did not hide it after the meeting: in his management of the two matches of the week, the coach ofOL wanted to arrive in the derby with “maximum freshness”. The argument can be heard even if for some players, we can doubt their inability to be able to play two matches in one week.
The damage is done, but now, Sage and the Lyon group have additional pressure with what looks like an obligation to win on Sunday, after the sacrifices of the Europa League. “We will approach the derby with the obligation to win and give everything. We will ensure that our match and our result live up to the expectations of our public, declared the coach. We know that it is important to win this first derby.”
Omari: “A question of life and death”
By spinning, Pierre Sage offered rest to some (VeretoutMatic, Tagliafico) and limited playing time to others (Lacazette, Breathing, Cherki, Tolisso). The usual holders who should logically find their place in the eleven on Sunday therefore have no interest in missing each other and being absent as was the case against Lille in the first half. The context of the derby is certainly different and the gathering of supporters, Saturday at 5 p.m. in front of the GOLTC, should raise awareness of the importance of the match. Even if the group already seems to be up to date, even the new ones like Warmed Omari. “A derby, you have to win it. I know how much the supporters love these kinds of matches. It's one of the most important matches for the team: it's victory or nothing. It's a question of life and death.”
