Without talking about overspeeding, OL experienced a fine alignment of the planets at the start of the season. Despite the turbulent summer surrounding his future in Ligue 1 (or Ligue 2) and a cheap transfer window, Paulo Fonseca and his men were able to keep their backs to better surprise their opponents. No doubt the different episodes have strengthened the bonds in the group and the locker room. But over the past month, the euphoria has subsided. The lack of depth, and sometimes quality, was felt. There was a first setback against Toulouse, then in Nice and Paris where the 3-3 draw was seen as a defeat after leading by three goals at the hour mark.
Les Gones would do better if they stayed with eleven men on the pitch for longer too. Suspensions and injuries weigh on a squad that does not need that when it comes to facing PSG. “There is the suspension of Hateboer, that of Abner, and we have an injury to Pavel (Sulc) who has an ischio problem. He will not be available for the match. Coco (Tolisso) did training today, but it was a more tactical session, without intensity. We’ll see tomorrow if he’s ready, but I have doubts. It’s risky to play him and I don’t want to take the risk of losing him for the next matches.deplores Fonseca at a press conference.
Who to score for OL?
You will have understood, OL will present themselves tomorrow (kick-off at 8:45 p.m.), without doubt, without their top scorer (Sulc, 5 goals in Ligue 1), and with their captain who does everything (4 goals) at least reduced because of “an ischio problem“. And Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah have still not returned from injury. Not optimal before facing the leader of the French championship, also without a lot of executives (Nuno Mendes, Hakimi, Dembélé, Doué). “It doesn’t change anything for us, we know the quality of PSG players. There will be other quality players. Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are among the best full-backs in the world. Naturally, their absences will change things, but that doesn’t change anything in Paris’s intentions and game.”
The French champion will present himself with a reshuffled team, particularly in defense where he has been failing since the start of the season. Problem is, OL will have to reinvent themselves offensively without their main gunners. “Our little gap is to realize the opportunitiesinsists Clinton Mata at a press conference. You have to dare more, hit the mark and try something. We do everything well, we get to the surface, but we don’t try hard enough. You have to be free, try, even if the ball goes out or isn’t on target, it doesn’t matter, maybe the next one will go to the bottom.» It’s time for some to take their chance, like Martin Satriano. “I spoke with him to tell him that he needs to be more present in the box. To score, he has to be there”repeats Fonseca. To the wise.
