Lyonn Olympian (OL) starts the final straight line of his season with a clear goal: to qualify for the Champions League next season. While the past week has not been a rest for the fans, Moussa Niakhaté remains confident in the Lyon forces for the upcoming games. “I’m 100% sure if we win our last four games, we’ll play the Champions League,” said Senegalese defender. According to him, a victory against Monaco would allow OL to return to their height in the qualifying race.
Paulo Fonseca, for his part, is a little less convinced but shares the goal of qualifying for the Champions League. “Twelve points would be wonderful,” he said, adding that the most important thing was to win the next match against Rennes. The OL team still has three home matches and a direct confrontation with Monaco, which should offer opportunities to achieve this goal.
The last week was a tough one for OL, with one defeat in the Europa League against Manchester United and another in the derby against Saint-Étienne. However, Moussa Niakhaté believes that these defeats should not be taken lightly and that the mind is essential to rebound. “We must remember what has been our strength since the start of the season,” he said.
Paulo Fonseca shares this view and adds that mental work has been essential to prepare players for future deadlines. He also stressed the importance of focusing on the next match against Rennes, which could be a difficult test since OL still had to qualify for the Champions League.
Corentin Tolisso is uncertain about this game due to a small sprain on his right knee, but Paulo Fonseca hopes he can play. On the other hand, Ernest Nuamah will not be on the side because of a rupture of the ligaments. Malick Fofana and Lucas Perri will be available for the game.
Despite the criticism following the last defeats, Paulo Fonseca accepts the criticism as part of the coaching profession. He believes that lessons should be learned from difficult times and that progress should continue. Moussa Niakhaté shares this view and adds that OL must remember who they are and show determination to achieve their goals.
The next match against Rennes will therefore be crucial for OL, who must win to stay in the Champions League race. Players must show a different attitude from that seen in the derby against Saint-Étienne to hope for a positive result."