Gers Euro trip can get Lyon roaring again
MOUSSA DEMBELE says Lyon plan to take their frustrations out on Rangers as he leapt to the defence of under-fire manager Peter Bosz.
The Ligue 1 side are hoping to make it six wins from six in their final Europa League Group A clash when Bosz’s former Feyenoord team-mate Gio van Bronckhorst visits the Groupama Stadium with the Ibrox men tonight.
But domestically things are not going nearly so well, with Lyon languishing in 12th place, 20 points behind leaders PSG.
It has been a turbulent week for the seven-time French champions after club legend Juninho took Lyon chiefs by surprise by revealing in an interview he was burned out and planned to quit his role as sporting director this month.
Bosz’s side were also lucky to avoid defeat at struggling Bordeaux on Sunday as they dropped points for the third time in four league games.
But former Celtic favourite Dembele insists his side are fully behind their boss.
Dembele, who hopes to make just his second start since fracturing his shin in September, said: “There was a lot of frustration after Bordeaux but there is nothing better than a European match for us to get moving in the right direction.
“Obviously we want to win all the matches, even if we know we’ve already qualified. Peter has given us a lot since his arrival.
“We still trust him and it is together that we will get out of this bad patch. At Lyon there is no match without stakes – we will do everything to win.”
Fellow ex-Celt Jason Denayer has been ruled out but Dembele is looking forward to being reunited with Rangers.
He tormented the Ibrox side during his two-year stint at Celtic Park, netting seven goals in nine Old Firm appearances.
Injury ruled him out of September’s 2-0 win in Glasgow but while he’s been back fit for the last two weeks, he’s had to be content with three consecutive sub outings.
The Frenchman added: “I want to start every game but sometimes it’s not the best option for the manager.
“I respect his choices and I’m always ready if he calls on me. We have to talk to each other in order to get back on the right track. We have to get back to work, we have to play as a team.”
There was little sign of harmony at the end of Sunday’s stalemate, with keeper Anthony Lopes squaring up angrily to star man Lucas Paqueta after the Brazilian almost cost his side a late goal.
But Bosz didn’t mind seeing his players let rip in public. He said: “We would have a problem if he hadn’t reacted like that.
“If great players, winners, say, ‘Well I don’t care…’, then we have a problem.”
On the domestic front, Lyon have been docked a Ligue 1 point after Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet was hit by a bottle last month.