Forty-eight hours after the crushing defeat, it was still difficult for Vincent Ponsota, the general manager of OL for women, to digest the loss of the title so hoped. At a trophy ceremony organized by the Union des journalistes de sport en France (UJSF) last Tuesday, Ponsota admitted that the last hours had been “hard to live”. Arsenal’s scathing defeat to the Fenottes in the Champions League semifinal left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Lyon fans. After struggling to win the London game (2-1), the women’s OL leaned heavily at home on the score of 4-1, synonymous with elimination in the semifinals.

This defeat was all the more painful for the Lyonnais as it ended a series of seven consecutive victories in the Champions League and undermined their ambition to win a ninth European title. Vincent Ponsota recalled that OL women still had a title to go for with the championship, but it is difficult to completely erase the disappointment of this European elimination.

Vanessa Gilles, a women’s OL defender, quickly admitted last Sunday that the season was “foult” for the Lyons. This statement could be interpreted as a sign of frustration with coach Joe Montemurro, whose future at the club is uncertain after a single season at his head.

The elimination in the Coupe de France in the first round and the defeat against Arsenal highlighted individual failures and tactical mistakes that cost the Lyonnaises dearly. Some supporters expressed dissatisfaction with Montemurro, but Ponsota refused to comment on the coach’s future, preferring to focus on the final results.

The next season could be marked by many changes in the Lyon squad, with several players at the end of the contract, including Laura Benkarth and Sara Däbritz. OL management is already working on the summer mercato to strengthen the team, with names like Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Jule Brand circulating. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the future of the club and its coach.

Women’s OL president, Jean-Michel Aulas, said the club had advanced on its recruitment for the coming seasons and had the means to succeed at the highest level. It is now up to the Lyonnais to get up after this painful defeat and prepare for next season with ambition and determination.