Zaha, Mikautadze, Nuamah… Pierre Sage settles his accounts

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By: Manu Tournoux

Despite the victory, signed in Toulouse this Sunday as part of the 6th day of L1 (1-2), OL coach Pierre Sage wanted to settle scores with several of his players.

Three days after their victory in the Europa League against Olympiakos, OL were able to move on to the championship on the TFC pitch this Sunday, on behalf of the 6e day of L1 (1-2). A miraculous success, or almost, obtained in added time thanks to Malick Fofana and while the unfortunate Rasmus Nicolaisen had equalized against his side after Yann Gboho’s opener.

I was quite surprised that we scored because I wasn’t expecting much given the match we were playing.says Pierre Sage, live on DAZN. Beyond the technical errors, it was more the reaction to losing the ball that bothered me. The reaction when the colleague loses the ball, the players who stop and complain a little. It’s not good. I told them at halftime. »

Zaha first out

For this meeting, the Rhone coach carried out a large squad review – with no less than eight changes compared to the eleven lined up in the European Cup less than 72 hours earlier. However, the substitutes did not meet their coach’s expectations. Wilfried Zaha in particular took it for his rank. “
He was the first player released, it clearly shows that I saw the same things as you… I know he will evolve. He came into play last time, he continues. He will integrate little by little and he will understand what is expected of him. »

Same reframing for Georges Mikautadze, who still struggled to show his advantage at the forefront. “ I talked about the attitudes that really stood out to me. Regarding the doubt that some people may have, I said to Georges at halftime: “You know, you’re going to make 200 calls in a game and it’s maybe 201e that you will be served. So put yourself at the service of the team for that, for the pressing. You will see that the team will give you back what you give them. »

Nuamah sanctioned

Purely and simply absent this Sunday, Ernest Nuamah was also due to his call to order. “ Regarding Nuamah, it wasn’t him who was injured, it was his watch », said Pierre Sage at a press conference. A technician who faced all the media added a layer: “ We didn’t produce much. It’s positive because we must also be able to generate this kind of scenario but the performance is not up to what we are capable of. » And to hammer home as to its holders of the day: “ If they want to get into the eleven much more regularly, they will have to follow the logic that drives us as a team… »

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