The Lyonnais have just won against Juventus when they have not won for more than a month in Ligue 1, but the Stéphanois do not want to give up at the time of this derby which, however, looks like an impossible pass to climb: “Even if Lyon obtained a good result against Juve, we will be there and ready to fight to achieve a performance”, even assures Yohan Cabaye. Besides, an eternal optimist, the midfielder believes in tomorrows that sing: “I am convinced that success will turn in our favor. “
So, this speech, which is similar to the faith of the charcoal burner, is it intended to calm the impatience of the supporters, but also of the partners whose concern is it very real, or is it a real unconsciousness of the situation in which the Stéphane club finds itself? Claude Puel drops a clue to the answer: “Of course we are aware of the situation, but a derby remains a game apart,” he explains. As if he had in his nearest memory the memory of the first leg (won 1-0 by ASSE).
A different context from the first leg
That day, for its first match on the bench of a Stéphane team already in a more than delicate position, the Greens, to everyone’s surprise, had the skin of their best enemies thanks to a goal from Robert Beric, but that who, then, had just succeeded Ghislain Printant refuses to draw such a parallel: “The conditions are not the same. It’s a different game to play. On the one hand, we will be traveling without our supporters and, on the other hand, Lyon has since changed coach, “he recalls.
Above all, he refuses to evoke his past in Lyon to focus on the present moment: “On a personal level, I must detach myself from the context to remain lucid and support my team so that it maneuvers well, that it does not don’t foil, ”he insists.
On the other hand, he is widely known about the absence of supporters, banned from traveling as their Rhone counterparts had been in the first leg. Inevitably, Puel regrets it while ensuring that it will be a source of determination for his players: “We will have a double motivation! “
And in his words, the coach of the Greens then returns to this blissful optimist who, on the side of the L’Étrat training center, seems to prevent everyone from seeing reality in the face: “The main thing is to be mentally armed to fight, re-engage forward and move up the rankings, ”he explains.
Without really worrying about the perilous classification of his team at the time when the last quarter of the competition will start …
>> Find the classification of Ligue 1 by clicking here
PROBABLE COMPOSITIONS
LYON: Lopes – Rafael, Marcelo, Denayer (cap.), Marçal – Tousart, Guimarães, Aouar – Traoré, Dembélé, Terrier.
replacements: Tatarusanu (g), Dubois, Andersen, Caqueret, Jean Lucas, Toko Ekambi, Cornet, Cherki, Gouiri.
SAINT ETIENNE : Moulin – Debuchy, Fofana, Saliba, Kolodziejczak – M’Vila, Cabaye – Honorat, Boudebouz, Bouanga – Diony.
replacements: Bajic, Trauco, Gabriel Silva, Mason, Dioussé, Abi, Tshihuabua, Gournat-Douath or Rivera.
referee: F. Schneider.