MHSC-Lyon: with Pierre Sage, OL are no longer laughing in 2024

Alexandre Lacazette et les Lyonnais ne sont pas bons à jouer en ce moment. MAXPPP – Matthieu Mirville

With its new coach and an expensive winter transfer window, Lyon has regained color.

"Nothing to see." Michel Der Zakarian is convinced: there is no point in dwelling on the first leg, won 4-1 by his team on August 19 last, in a stunned Groupama Stadium. If Montpellier and Lyon have indeed changed, the causes are not the same between an MHSC which is struggling with injuries and poor form, and an OL which has changed everything since.

Starting with his bench where Laurent Blanc, then in office, gave way to the Italian Fabio Grosso in mid-September, himself replaced by Pierre Sage at the beginning of December. For an extended interim period in January, until the end of the season.

The success of a "normal guy"

In Lyon, the tempo of musical chairs was dictated by catastrophic results and nine days out of 21 in the bottom position (16 as relegated). But since the induction of Pierre Sage, the Rhone club has regained color. So stuck with one success in thirteen days, he has just won seven of his last nine matches in all competitions, including “the’Olympico” against OM (2-1), last weekend.

"This match started a new era", estimates an OL follower. The Cup qualification on Wednesday against Lille (1-0) went in this direction. That of the hand of an atypical technician, from the amateur world. "In fact, Sage is a normal guy, continues our colleague. He both uses dad's formulas and applies modern management of men. And it unites, when Grosso had chosen firmness"

"Unacceptable to change teams in the middle of the season"

But if the 44-year-old from Jura, adept at mental preparation, has changed the face of OL, he also benefits from a record winter transfer window: seven recruits , including strong CVs such as Nemanja Matic and Saïd Benrahma, who should experience his first face at the MHSC.

Recruitment made possible by the relaxation of the regulation of payroll and transfer allowances, decided this summer by the DNCG, and documents provided by the American owner, John Textor.

The figure: 56

L’Olympique Lyonnais spent 56 million euros during the winter transfer window, recruiting seven players (Adryelson, Perri, Fofana, Orban, Matic, Mangala and Benrahma). More than anyone in Europe. To this total could be added nearly 50M€ options and bonuses.

As soon as it was released by the financial policeman, the one who owns OL via the Eagle football group, but also the Crystal Palace, Botafogo and Molenbeek clubs, took out the checkbook. Even if it means sparking controversy over the fairness of such a transfer window.

Like Philippe Piat, president of the French professional players' union (UNFP), who considered it “unacceptable to be able to change teams in high season", in The evening shift, Thursday.
"Lyon has other means than us, that's normal", responded Der Zak the next day. Two days before a match in which OL will present a group left by nearly ten players since the first match (*).

(*) Riou, Barcola, Jeffinho, Patouillet, Mamadou and Amine Sarr, Reine-Adelaïde, Kadewere.