Paulo Fonseca, coach of Olympique Lyonnais, expresses some relief following the draw in the Europa League, considering that the club avoided the most formidable teams. He is confident about OL’s chances, stressing the strength of his team and the opportunity to play a potentially favorable course in this competition. Fonseca insists on the club’s ambition to win every game and continuously improve, while recognizing the difficulty of winning a competition like the Europa League. He approached this competition with a desire to progress and achieve success.

Georges Mikautadze’s departure to Villarreal for 35 million euros, including bonuses, represents a significant loss for Olympique Lyonnais. This news is in addition to the sporting difficulty of the absence of its attacker, who was convinced by the prospect of playing in the Champions League and of a salary increase. Despite the significant financial contribution, this transfer leaves OL facing a major challenge in filling this offensive gap, with management actively seeking to recruit new strikers, including through loans.

At the same time, OL saw an opportunity to strengthen its defensive sector with the arrival of César Azpilicueta in FC Seville. After the departure of Saël Kumbedi, the Lyon club had targeted this versatile defender, but the player preferred to engage with the Spanish club. This decision put an end to a Lyon interest which had something to seduce the player, especially after his visit to the Olympique de Marseille. The arrival of Azpilicueta, who already has significant experience in Ligue 1, aims to strengthen the defensive strength of the team.