Alexandre Lacazette set the record straight

Since the start of the season, Olympique Lyonnais has had to deal with an XXL squad. Coming up against a large group, Pierre Sage often has to face complicated choices. In the offensive sector, the Lyon technician is spoiled for choice. In addition to the presence of several wingers with different profiles, the competition is also very tough at the attacking position with Alexandre Lacazette, Georges Mikautadze and Gift Orban. While the first city is the captain of the Gones and enjoys an indisputable status, the duel between Orban and Mikautadze looked fierce even if the second city, through his past as a child of Lyon, started with an advantage in the hearts of the supporters.

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However, after a complicated start and the Nigerian's saving double against Strasbourg (4-3), Georges Mikautadze experienced a period of lows. However, following satisfactory performances and with a counter finally unlocked recently, the Georgian returned to the race and ousted Gift Orban, who currently no longer fits into Pierre Sage's plans. This Thursday, Mikautadze even distinguished himself with a classy double against Qarabag (1-4) in the Europa League. A performance which confirmed that the former Messin was in great form and that he could clearly claim a starting place with OL in the long term. Given the sometimes complicated performances of Alexandre Lacazette this season, the debate was even opened by certain Rhone supporters this week.

Alexandre Lacazette praises the overall performance of his team

Thus, Alexandre Lacazette had to be present this Sunday against Nice. And against the Aiglons, the 33-year-old striker made everyone agree. Established at the forefront of the attack alongside Saïd Benrahma and Malick Fofana, the former Arsenal player distinguished himself by scoring his first hat-trick of the season in his team's big victory (4-1). Showing his sense of goal from the 4th minute on a marvelous cross from Clinton Mata, the Lyon number 10 doubled the lead thanks to another striker's goal just before the break. Ending his great celebration with a converted penalty in the 70th minute, the striker shone and confirmed that he was still one of the best strikers in the elite.

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At the end of the meeting, the Lyon captain did not hide his joy. As a good leader, he made a point of greeting his troops and explained that he was happy with his team's defensive performance: “the evening is beautiful. I want to highlight the work of the team. We have been rightly criticized for our effectiveness. This week, we were able to score a lot of goals. Georges scored on Thursday, I did it today, it's good for the team. Defensively, we didn't concede much. We must not get excited and we will go back to work at the start of the week. We put a lot of desire into the start of the second half. We didn't want to concede goals and be present in front of the goal. We didn't concede any goals, but we still need to work on it. We want to be solid defensively. This fourth goal was important. We had to be efficient and we knew how to do it.”

Released following his penalty converted for the benefit of Georges Mikautadze, Lacazette did not play a single minute in the middle of the week against Qarabag. A forced rest which is not necessarily to the taste of the person concerned as the latter confided to DAZN : “Thursday, I was ready to play but the coach preferred to play Georges so that he would have more playing time and to allow young Enzo Molebe to have minutes. That's good, everyone should have minutes. We must be present when the coach calls on us. I was disappointed not to play on Thursday, but that’s how it is.” No tension in the air therefore while Pierre Sage also affirmed that his relationship with his goleador was particularly healthy: “I spoke about management with Alexandre Lacazette. We are in a very healthy relationship and we speak frankly to each other. It has to be healthy when we talk to each other and when it’s confidential.” So everything is going well between Rhône and Saône.