This club is remarkable in that it does not divide opponents into weak and strong, giving all the best in every match. When Juninho Pernambucano rejoices in a goal, it is difficult to understand to whom he scored - “Lille” or “Sedan”. Enthusiasm is the same. But it seems that even Juninho grimaced skeptically when he learned about the symbolic misfire of Toulouse. The sixth consecutive championship does not bring Lyon past joy: firstly, the rivals are too weak, and secondly, the championship is the only title of the season.
Meanwhile, the proclaimed goals of Lyon were much more ambitious. Achieving only the most obvious of them makes the current season virtually a failure. Until now, the president of the club, Jean-Michel Olya, had no sense of flair for the coaches: each new one brought something new to the team’s game. Gerard Houlier became the first helmsman in a long time, more like a spectator than an active participant in the process. The performance was a success, the actors knew the roles by heart, it remained to admire their game.
And Houllier admired. Enthusiastic, he did not notice important changes: he got older, which means that Juninho became less able-bodied, Malouda’s game brought fewer surprises, Viltor was obviously overweight, Govu became less dangerous, there was no adequate replacement for Diarr.
Time passed, and Houllier, fascinated by the tread in the championship, continued to watch, but not act. Confident victories, playing in the classroom - all this was easy to be deceived. When Houlier began to trust the young Ben Arfe and Benzema more, it seemed that the coach felt something. But their outputs on the field were too mechanical. Instead of Malouda or Govu - well, play the same.
Of course, much is seen from the side. In the course of the season that had begun successfully, it was very difficult for Ulya to discern such “trifles”. But if you are aiming for the Champions League, then be nice. This is not a matter of professional achievement, but of professional suitability.
Champions League - the dream of Lyon. By winter, the team tried as much as possible to break away from competitors in the national championship in order to focus on performance in Europe. In mid-January, without prejudice to the tournament position, Lyon ceases to win. French observers unanimously argued: Houlier gave powerful loads to bring the team to a new peak for the champions playoffs. Moreover, this peak was planned not for matches with Roma, but already for the next stage, they say, Roma, and so you can go. But a huge reserve in the championship deprived Lyon of a competitive tone, and the effect of the increased loads turned out to be a torpedo fired by the target. The head coach of the main French team miscalculated elementarily.
Over the past five seasons, Lyon has been moving forward. The game became more convincing, the gap in France - more, European rivals - more timid. Today, "Lyon" stalled. This is still a fast and beautiful car, which will drive on French roads for a long time and without fail, but it is risky to travel on a long journey. We need a smart and experienced mechanic who, knowingly, would delve under the hood. Something would go through, something replaced.
The presidential wisdom of Jean-Michel Olya rescued “Lyon” many, many times. And today, the team players, whether tired of victories or hungry for them, look at the president with hope. He must know the way out. In 1993, Olya fired Raymond Domenech after he brought Lyon from the lower league to the big league. So began the path to future champions. Now “Lyon” is approaching a new, more difficult frontier. And for sure Olya has some interesting solution in store.
Timur CRANES