In a transcription provided by L’Equipe, Pierre Sage, the interim manager for Olympique Lyonnais, reflected on both the current status of the club, the work that still needs to be done, and the potential that this job could become permanent for the former youth coach.
Les Gones have struggled so far this season, with the hierarchy still concluding the search for its third permanent manager after releasing Laurent Blanc and Fabio Grosso.
Sage stepped in only as a temporary measure but has so far worked to turn around the mood at the seven-time champions, transforming it from a bleak atmosphere to one that is beginning to find hope.
More importantly, he has brought back a winning mentality to the team, which has seen Lyon lifted from the bottom spot over the weekend for the first time in months following two consecutive victories (Toulouse and Monaco).
Sage considers life at Lyon
When asked to talk about how it felt to be the manager of a team that won two matches in a row, Sage responded by stating: ‘It’s much more comfortable than for the one who started with two defeats in a row, and it was the same person.’
Sage continues, ‘the results are coming and it gives meaning to everything that has been undertaken, so it is good for the club and for our objective which is to remain in Ligue 1.’
The manager then suggested that the problems facing the team are not fixed, ‘we realise that in matches we are not stable enough to say that we are cured.’
However, winning matches can begin to help, ‘there are more smiles, it makes training easier… the perception of the team changes, your questions change. But we have to remain vigilant.’
The next Lyon mananager
With the final match before the winter break approaching on Wednesday, Sage was asked about the potential that he could turn this interim opportunity into a permanent role, with a victory at home against FC Nantes.
He let his intentions known, ‘the word interim has a meaning. When I was young I did temporary work to pay for my studies. And when the contract was over, it was over. And for the contract to be extended, you have to perform well. That’s how it is. Whatever happens, I will be very happy with where I am in 2024, as long as it is at this club.’
The interim manager appears to have gained the trust of his players, as Maxence Caqueret (23), stated: ‘The coach gives us the foundations and frees us. By winning these two matches and seeing what the staff is doing, we are very happy. We would be happy to continue with them, but we have to win against Nantes, to positively transform the work that has been done, even if it is not up to us to make these decisions.’
Ultimately, the decision over the next Lyon manager will be taken during the winter break, and even if the choice does not favour Sage, his work in this short period would likely be invaluable to the next manager in steering Les Gones away from relegation.
