On Sunday, OL played 4-2-3-1 against Nantes after returning to 4-3-3 in Glasgow. More than the system, the Lyonnais finally seem to apply the playing principles of Pierre Sage.
“A deserved victory”. When giving his feelings about his team’s performance Sunday afternoon against Nantes (2-0), Pierre Sage was quite pleased with what he saw. That didn’t stop him from raising his voice at the break, but over the 90 minutes, the OL players responded. It is never easy to switch from the euphoria of Europe to the daily grind of Ligue 1, but the frantic pace of these last two weeks has allowed the Lyonnais to quickly turn the page: that of frustration and of the disappointment of the defeat against Marseille. “It is often said that it is easier not to ruminate when playing again three days later and that is what happened since Marseille, Jordan confessed. Veretout after the meeting. Playing Europe was good for us.”
Tagliafico sometimes central third, sometimes makeshift attacker
Facing the FC NantesOL signed a fourth victory in a row, in all competitions, but above all did not tremble. “Not an easy victory” for Moussa Niakhatebut a success acquired with manner. It’s been a long time since OL supporters and even Pierre Sage were accustomed to experiencing a match without the thrill of being put to the test. Lucas certainly had to Perri is employed and validates a rise in power, but faced with the timid Canaries, the Lyonnais have rather mastered their subject. Finishing the match with a clean sheet and having made the break before the hour mark, they were able to advance. A success first acquired in 4-2-3-1 before returning to 4-3-3 at the time of the entries of Tessmann et He would lie down a quarter of an hour from the end.
Since his arrival on the bench, Pierre Sage insists that the term system does not necessarily mean much in his eyes and that it is rather the animation with and without a ball that counts. This has been true for two to three weeks. OL certainly went back to four behind, but we could see on Sunday that in the offensive phase, the Lyon pattern looked more like a 3-2-4-1. “It depends on the opposing pressure. I can play as a full-back or as a third central defender. It depends on the coach’s requests, nou explained Nicolas Tagliafico after the match. This allows us to play better between the lines, to create more passing triangles, to allow players like Rayan (Cherki) or Saïd (Benrahma) to be more in the heart of the game and then combine well with Alex (Lacazette ).”
Hybrid profiles, a variety of possibilities and solutions
The Lyon team has not yet achieved the polished game that one might expect from them. But after weeks of wondering when Pierre’s paw Sage would appear, the matches against theOlympiakosTHE Rangers et Nantes gave an overview. Even theABOUTcar “There was disappointment with the result and the scenario, but I thought we had a good match”. When asked whether his tactical influence is now complete, the Lyon coach refuses to answer in the affirmative. “We’re not going to get excited. We’ll have to keep it going for 50 games to say that a style emerges.” OL are certainly still playing to scare each other and yet there are many game intentions that have been found, whether in 3-5-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Proof that the system counts for little and that it is above all the directives of the staff and the talent of the players which guide the training towards renewal. In Glasgow, Cherki had abandoned his right side to enter the axis and leave the field open to Maitland-Niles. Against Nantes, number 18 took a position as leader from the start. However, the philosophy was the same: either see Benrahma get closer to the duo Cherki – Lacazetteor, more surprisingly, see Maitland-Niles as a real addition in the middle so that OL is arranged in 3-2-4-1 with the ball. A variety of options and solutions to create doubt in the opponent and which has worked quite well in recent outings.
“Our framework allows us to come out to express creativity”
In the abundance of goods he has at his disposal since the end of the transfer window, Pierre Sage is trying to take advantage of it with different profiles, but also hybrid players like Tagliafico and Maitland-Niles, capable of playing chameleons. “Knowing how to understand different positions in the same match or sometimes in the same action is the main quality of a high-level player. When there are permutations and compensations, they must put on the costume linked to the position they occupy at that time.” Like Rayan CherkiOL manages to be unpredictable in sequence. It’s not yet 90 minutes, but it’s encouraging. In any case, by setting a framework, Sage manages at the same time to “allow the freedom to create”. It’s working pretty well at the moment.
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