Arsenal and Lyon: Coupet analyses the stakes of a derby charged with emotions
London – Despite the defeat (1-2) against Arsenal, Gunners coach Renée Slegers, is optimistic about his team’s chances of going to the semifinal of Champions League. The second period was considered a promising period for the Gunners.
The former iconic goaltender of Olympique Lyonnais (OL), Gregory Coupet, also expressed himself on the eve of the derby, via the BUT! microphone. Formed in Saint-Étienne, Coupet, a historic figure of the OL with seven titles of French champion, shared his gaze on this particular encounter. Although he could not follow the live game (“not a DAZN subscriber”), he kept an eye on his former clubs.
“Yes, of course. First because it reminds me of a lot of memories. And good memories. Then because they’re just two of my old clubs. And then because a derby is anything but a game like the others. It attracts attention, there are extraordinary atmospheres, the whole region talks about it. It’s also an opportunity to fit in with supporters and if it’s a good kid, it’s very nice to live,” he said.
If the OL fights for a qualification in the Champions League and theASSE clings to his last hopes of maintaining, Coupet points out that the sporting context has never been decisive in this derby. “Clearly. But be careful, a derby doesn’t depend on that kind of thing. When I was playing OL, and we were as much ranked as theASSE, the derbys of the head and shoulders were not dominated. Far from it. In these kinds of matches, the ranking doesn’t count, at least that’s my opinion.”
It foresees increased pressure for the “Verts” (AS Saint-Étienne) against their goal of maintaining, and even greater pressure for the Lyonnais. “The Stéphanois have everything to gain by trying to create an exploit, the pressure is not on them. The Lyons are the opposite. We wouldn’t understand that they didn’t beat the penultimate championship. Even if it’s Geoffroy-Guichard.”
Finally, Coupet salutes OL’s recovery since Paulo Fonseca’s arrival, despite an incident with an arbitrator who distanced him from the ground. “Yes, really. I did not imagine at the time that the change of coach could produce such an effect on the group. Especially since Paulo Fonseca quickly skipped with a referee, which pushed him away from the bench. But we have the feeling, since then, that this episode has created a real solidarity between the players of the OL, that it has welded them like never before and that they are all enjoying it. No wonder they have the right results in the championship and they are no longer far from the podium. With Fonseca, OL became a band. A real band.”
On the margins of this article, it is important to note that Joe Montemurro, Lyon’s coach, was satisfied with the advantage gained on the field of Arsenal.