Swept away by West Ham (0-3) at Groupama Stadium in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Olympique Lyonnais therefore left the European scene through the back door. Asked after the meeting, Peter Bosz logically returned to this collective sinking.
Nightmarish evening for Olympique Lyonnais! Authors of an encouraging draw (1-1) last week at West Ham, the Lyonnais did not exist this time at Groupama Stadium and under the eyes of their supporters, revolted at the final whistle. Slapped by the Hammers (0-3), OL, only tenth in Ligue 1, thus stops at the quarter-final stage in this Europa League. A huge disappointment for an entire club that Peter Bosz, coach of Les Gones, tried to analyze with certain hindsight, sometimes even confusing at the microphone of OL TV.
“We started very well, we had an opportunity with Karl Toko Ekambi, who had the misfortune to hit the post. We still have two good chances, but we have to score at this level, we know that they are very strong from set pieces. The other two goals are badly defended. It’s hard”, first said the Dutch coach, regretting the lack of efficiency of his team. Having to lose three times on goals from Dawson (38th), Rice (44th) and Bowen (48th), OL were never able to catch up. A bitter failure for which Peter Bosz however did not wish to overwhelm his players.
Peter Bosz praises the state of mind of his players despite the slap received!
“Really, I saw another team that tried, the players didn’t give up, it wasn’t easy against such a team. We weren’t all 100%, without Antho (Lopes), despite that the players didn’t give up, they tried (…) First, Tanguy wasn’t 100%, he trained yesterday but can’t play 90 minutes. Lucas is the same. But with his behavior, he can change the state of mind on the pitch, his teammates have full confidence in him. Head, with his crosses, his dribbles, he is capable. We had to score two goals.”
Preferring to emphasize the combative state of mind of his people, the 58-year-old Batavian however confessed despite everything the regrets of the first leg where his team had played eleven against ten for a whole half. “The players may be disappointed but tomorrow we have to think about Bordeaux, see you on Sunday. It’s mental. If you like OL, you are disappointed. But from tomorrow we must not keep that in mind, we must think of Sunday.. Finally returning to the incidents, Bosz said that despite the understandable disappointment of the supporters, “we should not break the stadium”. One thing is certain, the former Ajax coach experienced another poor performance at the head of OL. However, nothing to worry about his future on the Lyon bench: “I don’t fear for my future, I feel the president’s confidence every day”concluded the Gones coach.
