Lyon, between disappointment and determination: the derby against Saint-Étienne becomes an imperative

After the failure of Manchester United (5-4 after prolongation), Olympique Lyonnais faced a major challenge: to remobilize quickly to face Saint-Étienne in Sunday’s derby. The atmosphere in Old Trafford’s changing rooms and on the night of Thursday to Friday was marked by a strong emotion, a mixture of pain, tears and solidarity. The 5-4 defeat after prolongation, despite a heroic match and a spectacular return (0-2 to 4-2), left deep traces.

The atmosphere was heavy after the final whistle. Players, especially Malick Fofana and Moussa Niakhaté, expressed disappointment. Fofana, still ringed, said, “We can never forget this game.” Niakhaté, in spite of his fatal error on the last goal in Mancun, testified of the difficulty of the situation: “It’s hard, it’s complicated. We know we missed something big.” The chilling silence in the changing rooms, illustrated by the eyes that run away, testifies to the difficulty for the players to overcome this defeat.

Paulo Fonseca, initially discreet, finally took the floor to encourage his players. He highlighted the performance of the team in digital inferiority after Tolisso’s expulsion, but also acknowledged a lack of emotional balance after 4-2. “We celebrated at 4-2 while there was still time,” he lamented. John Textor, present at the scene, also expressed support, encouraging players. Alexandre Lacazette, visibly shaken, quickly remobilized, just like Rayan Cherki.

Cherki, frustrated but proud, sent a WhatsApp message in the night to re-mobilize the troops. His message, relayed by The Team, was striking: “We had a game of men, they will remember us. There’s a big game on Sunday, this will be the last derby for some, so we have to raise our heads and kill each other for the club.” This speech, reflecting the determination of the 21-year-old player, suggests that the impact of elimination could be less than expected.

In spite of the defeat, OL were already heading for the derby against Saint-Étienne. The atmosphere is electrical, the stake is important, and motivation is at the highest level. The team will have to turn this disappointment into fuel for Sunday’s game. Lucas Perri, absent for family reasons, will be replaced by Rémy Descamps at the door.

The elimination of Manchester United, though cruel, must not overshadow OL’s ambitions in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League. The derby against Saint-Étienne is therefore a crucial test for players’ ability to remobilize and continue their journey.