Facing the Violets this Friday (9:00 p.m.), Les Gones have the opportunity to come back only two points from the European places.
In football, everything goes fast. From one week to the next, the dynamics are reversed and hopes once abandoned reappear. Olympique Lyonnais knows something about it. Ten days ago, after their elimination in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France against FC Nantes (1-0), the Rhone team seemed to have said goodbye to European qualification. Now, as the “sprint finalof the championship, Les Gones (7e) have reason to believe in a good rise in the standings in order to win a ticket for the next edition of the Europa League Conference.
Players directly remobilized
This reversal of the situation, Olympique Lyonnais owes it above all to its mentality; this mentality which (yet) has been so lacking since the start of the season. Indeed, while its objectives were inexorably receding, the Rhone group never admitted defeat. Like Corentin Tolissio who has always remained optimistic, even after elimination from the Coupe de France: “We must not give up after this defeat in the semi-finals. We have to believe in it and give everything to grab the European places. I believe in it, as I said it will be complicated. I think the group has the means. We have to believe it“, confided the 2018 World champion in a press conference before facing Stade Rennes.
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The midfielder was right to keep believing it. Because last Sunday, on the lawn of Groupama Stadium, and despite a difficult start, the Rhône club rallied to win against the Rouge et Noir (3-1). «It’s true that the elimination hurt us but despite the disappointment, we had to quickly switch to the championship. It was important to react against Rennes, it was done“, explained Johann Lepenant this Wednesday in front of the journalists. This almost unexpected reaction totally relaunched Les Gones in the race for Europe.
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The opportunity to return to two points of Europe
Eight days from the end of the championship, Olympique Lyonnais is eighth in the standings, but only five units from fifth place, synonymous with qualification for the next edition of the Europa League Conference (C4). In other words, anything is possible for Laurent Blanc and his men; especially since their direct competitors – Stade Rennes (6e) and LOSC (5e) – remain on setbacks and could lose points in the coming weeks. “Always believe in sport and in life“Said the Lyon coach after the victory against Stade Rennais.
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And to believe it a little more, it will be necessary to continue this Friday, against Téfécé, at the start of the 31st day of Ligue 1.We know that we will not have much room for error. It’s up to us to take these games with concentration. We are always motivated to win matches and participate in European competitions“Said Johann Lepenant this Wednesday. By winning, Les Gones would temporarily return to Stade Rennes and only two small points behind LOSC. They would thus put the Rouge et Noir and the Dogues under pressure, they who must respectively face the Stade de Reims (Saturday, 5:00 p.m.) and Montpellier Hérault SC (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.) this weekend. A great opportunity for Alexandre Lacazette and his teammates. Will they be able to seize it? Answer this Friday evening.