Whereas 4 French golf equipment secured progress to the knockout section of the Champions League this week, one other was busy firing a well-liked coach as Lyon parted firm with Pierre Sage and lined up Paulo Fonseca as his substitute.
A whole unknown when he was appointed in November 2023 to take over a group languishing on the foot of the desk, Sage revived Lyon’s fortunes in dramatic vogue, taking them to European qualification and a French Cup ultimate which they misplaced to Paris Saint-Germain.
Nonetheless, he has paid the value for a run of 5 video games and not using a win this month which included a Cup exit on penalties towards fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu, with American proprietor John Textor displaying no mercy.
Caretaker coach Jorge Maciel due to this fact oversaw Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Ludogorets of Bulgaria on Thursday that clinched their place within the final 16 of the Europa League.
Fonseca was watching within the stands, getting an concept of the duty he faces in attempting to steer Lyon to Champions League qualification, which the membership urgently must ease their large money owed.
Just lately sacked by AC Milan, Fonseca solely left Ligue 1 on the finish of final season after impressing throughout two years in cost at Lille.
The Portuguese due to this fact has higher pedigree than Sage, however the latter was a a lot revered determine amongst Lyon followers who’ve been perplexed by his sacking.
But Textor appears fully unconcerned by what sure supporters would possibly assume, and was seen on digicam stopping for selfies with some members of the gang on Thursday.
Lyon’s outcomes have undoubtedly been affected by off-field points, with the membership being compelled to promote gamers within the January switch window to scale back the wage invoice.
They’ve been hit with a ban from signing gamers this month due to their monetary issues and have been threatened with relegation on the finish of the season if they don’t considerably cut back money owed.
“Is that this not enjoyable? I am having enjoyable,” Textor remarked this week to AFP when requested in regards to the instability on the membership.
“There may be by no means a foul time to make resolution,” added the American — whose Eagle Soccer Group additionally owns Brazilian and South American champions Botafogo, and has a big minority stake in Crystal Palace — in relation to Sage’s sacking.
“There isn’t any such factor as good timing, so I’m not apprehensive about whether or not I’ve made the choice on the proper time or not.”
Now it’s over to Lyon’s gamers, together with veterans Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, and Argentina playmaker Thiago Almada — allowed to signal on mortgage from Botafogo regardless of the switch ban — to do the job on the pitch for Fonseca.
A win in Marseille on Sunday will see Lyon near inside 4 factors of their opponents, who’re second.
“We’re adapting. We try to remain targeted on what we now have to do, in our bubble,” Rayan Cherki instructed broadcaster Canal Plus.
“We won’t do something in regards to the selections being made upstairs.”
Participant to observe: Kyogo Furuhashi
The Japanese worldwide this week arrived at disaster membership Rennes from Celtic after scoring 85 objectives in 165 appearances in three and a half years in Scotland.
He may have been on the brink of play for Celtic in a glamour Champions League play-off tie in a few weeks, however as a substitute will attempt to assist Rennes draw back from the relegation zone in Ligue 1 beneath new coach Habib Beye.
Key stats
4 – All 4 of France’s representatives — Lille, PSG, Monaco and Brest — have made it by to the Champions League knockout section
7 – Jorge Sampaoli misplaced seven of his 10 video games in control of Rennes earlier than being sacked on Thursday
11 – Ousmane Dembele has scored 11 objectives in his final eight appearances for PSG
Fixtures (occasions GMT)
Friday
Montpellier v Lens (1945)
Saturday
Brest v Paris Saint-Germain (1600), Monaco v Auxerre (1800), Lille v Saint-Etienne (2005)
Sunday
Toulouse v Good (1400), Rennes v Strasbourg, Reims v Nantes, Angers v Le Havre (all 1615), Marseille v Lyon (1945)
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