OL’s victory in Toulouse on Sunday, during the 6th day of Ligue 1, was marked by a frank intervention from coach Pierre Sage. Three days after the Europa League victory against Olympiakos, OL managed to win on the TFC pitch, but not without difficulties.
The success, snatched in added time thanks to Malick Fofana and an own goal from Rasmus Nicolaisen after Yann Gboho’s opener, was described as “miraculous or almost”. Pierre Sage expressed his surprise: “ I was quite surprised that we scored because I wasn’t expecting much given the match we played, said Pierre Sage, speaking live on DAZN. »
The coach criticized his players’ reaction to losing the ball and their attitude on the pitch. “Beyond the technical errors, it was more the reaction to losing the ball that bothered me. The reaction when the colleague loses the ball, the players who stop and complain a little. It’s not good. I told them at halftime. »
For this meeting, Pierre Sage made a large rotation of his squad, making eight changes compared to the Europa League match. However, the replacements did not live up to expectations. Wilfried Zaha was particularly criticized by his coach.
“He was the first player out, it clearly shows that I saw the same things as you… I know he will develop. He came into play last time, he continues. He will integrate little by little and he will understand what is expected of him. »
Georges Mikautadze was also singled out for his lack of efficiency at the front. “I talked about the attitudes that really stood out to me. Regarding the doubt that some people may have, I said to Georges at half-time: “You know, you are going to make 200 calls in a match and it is perhaps on the 201st that you will be served. So put yourself at the service of the team for that, for the pressing. You will see that the team will give back to you what you bring to them.” »
The victory in Toulouse, although valuable, therefore highlighted shortcomings that the OL coach is keen to correct quickly. The next meetings will tell whether the adjustments desired by Pierre Sage will bear fruit.
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