Commentary Lyon got up after “the deep malaise” of the post-match against West Ham
At OL Park,
A banner “Fuck off…. », a violent attempted invasion ground difficult to contain by the stewards and the police, boycott announcements by groups of Bad Gones and Lyon 1950 supporters for OL-Bordeaux, as well as a big pressure shot aimed at the players at their hotel in the part of about fifty people, a few hours before the match… The consequences of the slap suffered by Olympique Lyonnais, Thursday against West Ham (0-3), created a real shock wave during the last three days, until the return to Ligue 1 on Sunday against the Girondins.
“The malaise was deeper than this defeat in the Europa League, recognizes Jean-Michel Aulas. We saw on the field at the end of the match Thursday temptations to transform a sporting defeat into violent gestures, and it hurts a lot. Losing a game does not justify fury and aggression. And how do you think our four 19-year-old players interpret the violence that approaches them all the way to the hotel? »
4th place is just five points away
It is in this most hostile climate that OL had to remain in the fight for European places, Sunday afternoon, by welcoming the relegation player from Bordeaux. Even without the slightest singing of deserted corners (we hardly heard that the Bordeaux park in the first period), the players of Peter Bosz delivered a rather impressive game, well facilitated it is true by the abyssal level of the Bordelais (6 – 1).
“We reacted as we should. In Lyon, we have the best players and the best coach now. It was different on Thursday, it’s football, “said the Lyon coach after this 32nd day, which allows OL to move up to 8th place and only five points behind Nice (4th) .
“The elimination hurt everyone”
“The elimination hurt everyone: us, the club and the supporters, summarizes Romain Faivre, scorer on Sunday after only 10 seconds of play in the second period. So we had to put on a show in front of the public today, and that’s done. The president came to remobilize us and push us to question ourselves in relation to this match. Very moved by this festival at the Parc OL, Jean-Michel Aulas showed up very excited for the occasion in front of the media, Sunday after the meeting.
I read in some newspapers that Lyon was over, on the verge of implosion. The foot has this magic of sometimes transforming an immense but transient pain into satisfaction and enthusiasm. There has been an avalanche of very negative and sweeping analysis which is creating disorder. We question the solidity of OL and their European career. We are admired all over Europe. It’s no use trying to trample us, we’re very strong. »
“I haven’t slept in the last few nights”, says Thiago Mendes
Stressing that there were “38,000 happy people” on Sunday afternoon at Parc OL, JMA recalled its desire to “stand up” in this very delicate period for the club. Even Thiago Mendes, who was reluctant to confide in the press, looked into the effects of this debacle on the players: “Personally, I haven’t slept in the last few nights. It’s something violent that hurt me, just like my team. We have to raise our heads”. Nothing like facing these Girondins when you feel at the bottom of the hole.
Like the ball of Gaëtan Poussin on the second but Karl Toko Ekambi (2-0, 27th), the Lyonnais transformed into profit from the setbacks of the current 19th in Ligue 1. And this even without support and songs Bad Gones and Lyon 1950. “It’s difficult to play a match without the supporters, recalls Thiago Mendes. I understand that they are disappointed. They did not expect, like us, this result against West Ham. It is up to us to do everything to ensure that our supporters return to the stadium. Or that the next six opponents are as naive and harmless as the Girondins?