On Saturday, in the quarter-final game of the Club World Cup against Bayern Munich, PSG coach Luis Enrique revealed a tactical inspiration from Olympique Lyonnais. He admitted to having copied certain phases of OL play, including the use of long forward balloons during the engagements, a strategy used under the trainings of Pierre Sage and Paulo Fonseca. Enrique stressed the value of this approach, although it warns that it will be changed in the long run, as football is constantly adapting. He said that this inspiration was not a deliberate choice, but rather a response to the current situation, while stressing the absence of “magic” in football. Faced with the physical strength of Bayern Munich, the PSG will have to rely on its tactical superiority to defeat its opponents.

Olympique Lyonnais, faced with significant financial constraints following an administrative relegation, has favoured the development of young players for its summer preparation. The team, with 29 players, including 7 from Pro 2, will rely on talents such as Lassine Diawara, Teo Barišić and Alejandro Gomes Rodríguez for the coming season. The club also retained loaned players, including Mathieu Patouillé and Ashraf Laâziri, thus providing a gaming opportunity for 11 young players who could potentially integrate the professional workforce. The outcome of their integration will depend in part on the decision of the NACG Appeal Board, expected on July 10.

Despite a positive transfer balance of EUR 116.8 million in 2025, Olympique Lyonnais limited its spending to a single recruit, Thiago Almada, due to its delicate financial situation. The club has raised several loans with option of purchase, generating an additional income of 18 million euros. This financial austerity is the result of a cost reduction policy initiated in 2024, which led to the divestment of several key players such as Jeffinho, Gift Orbán and Maxence Caquet, as well as the sale of Luiz Henrique and Rayaan Cherki. OL has therefore demonstrated an ability to generate revenue through the sale of players, while maintaining a cautious approach to recruitment.