Olympique Lyonnais is accumulating frustrations in Ligue 1. Dominated matches that slip away, scores that melt away despite apparent control: 3-3 against Paris FC, 0-0 against Brest. Behind these debacles lies a pattern that repeats itself with worrying regularity. Trailing 3-0 against Paris FC and controlled until the 67th minute, OL completely collapsed in twenty minutes. In Brest, reduced to ten very early on, the Lyonnais still held on, but this feeling of inevitability of draws hangs over the Groupama Stadium like never before.
Tactical patterns that cause panic
The blame lies squarely with Paulo Fonseca and his premature tactical changes. When things get a little tougher, the Portuguese technician switches his team into an ultra-defensive pattern with 5 defenders, stifling all creativity. Against PFC, while Paris FC was going through its zone of turbulence with 10 against 11, Fonseca replaced his best attacking midfielders (Tolisso, Karabec, Moreira) with defenders (Tessmann, Tagliafico, Hateboer). OL went from master of the game to a paralyzed team. This inversion invariably causes a wave of panic among the Lyonnais, who find themselves defending, retreating, “squeezing their buttocks” as the regional press denounced.
It’s not a question of lack of talent: OL have a solid defense and quality offensive players. It’s a matter of erratic philosophy and lack of confidence in critical moments. As soon as an expulsion occurs or a competitor comes back, the coach chooses security rather than continuity. However, psychologically, this turnaround signals to his players that everything is going to collapse. Opponents sense it, regain confidence, and exploit this mental collapse caused by the bench.
The negative signal sent to players
The irony? These revengers (the PFC in particular) score goals by playing high against a frightened OL. Fonseca tries to concrete and gets the opposite. As long as the Portuguese coach has not found the balance between pragmatism and tactical confidence, OL will remain prisoners of these frustrating draws who are killing their European ambitions.
