Zaha joined Lyon on loan from Galatasaray in the summer, however, he has thus far struggled to settle. He has made just two appearances for the club, including one start in Ligue 1, and he is far from convincing his manager Sage, who has plenty of options at his disposal.

Sage spoke on RMC Sport show After Foot earlier this week, demanding more from the summer signing. “The idea is simply for him to be aware of what we expect from him at our club and I said he needs to understand that we recruited Wilfried Zaha, so we would like to have Wilfried Zaha,” said the OL manager.

Zaha’s performances in training improve since transgression

He also stated: “I had a good discussion with him last week regarding the problems that we have encountered. The idea isn’t to fine him for the sake of fining him.” That comment alludes to an incident, that RMC Sport have now shed light on. 

According to the French media, he was an unauthorised absence the day after Lyon’s win over FC Nantes just before the international break. Zaha could therefore be omitted from Les Gones’ matchday squad to face Le Havre AC this weekend. However, no decision has yet been taken and, since the incident, the Ivory Coast international has shown more commitment in training, which could allow him to be re-integrated into the set-up. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Zaha joined Lyon on loan from Galatasaray in the summer, however, he has thus far struggled to settle. He has made just two appearances for the club, including one start in Ligue 1, and he is far from convincing his manager Sage, who has plenty of options at his disposal. 

Sage, who signed a permanent deal with OL after working miracles at the club last season, has an attacking arsenal, consisting of Alexandre Lacazette, Georges Mikautadze, Gift Orban, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, Rayan Cherki, Said Benrahma, and of course Zaha. 

It is therefore not easy for Zaha to establish himself, but Sage has asked for more from the former Crystal Palace and Manchester United winger. “I had a good discussion with him last week regarding the problems that we have encountered,” began the OL manager, speaking on After Foot. 

He added, “The idea isn’t to fine him for the sake of fining him. The idea is simply for him to be aware of what we expect from him at our club and I said he needs to understand that we recruited Wilfried Zaha, so we would like to have Wilfried Zaha.”

Sage did nonetheless highlight that Zaha arrived without match fitness, following his late move from Galatasaray. “It has nothing to do with his abilities as a player but his capacity to live with this team,” concluded Sage.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The France U21 international had struggled for game time last season after picking up a long-term injury while representing his national side.This kept him out of Pierre Sage’s plans at Lyon when the manager first arrived, while fresh recruits in the winter transfer window meant that there was no role for Lepenant once he returned to the team

At Nantes, it has been a very different story, with Antoine Kombouaré relying heavily on the loanee as one of his key players in a campaign start that sees the club sat in 10th place. Lepenant was able to display his skillset with an excellent assist to help give Nantes the 2-0 lead against AS Saint-Étienne albeit the game would end 2-2

The midfielder picked up the ball from a throw-in close to the Saint-Étienne goal, he twisted and turned losing his marker before darting along the by-line skipping past two challenges before delivering his pass to Sorba Thomas (25). 

It was an assist reminiscent of Karim Benzema (36) in Real Madrid’s 2017 Champions League victory over Atlético de Madrid in the semi-final, and social media was quick to spot this. However, in an interview with L’Équipe, Lepenant has laughed off the similarities. 

“I thought it was ironic. I’m not at all like Benzema, so it made me laugh,” the former SM Caen man explained. “But it’s true that it looks like [his goal against Atlético]. But there are so many guys who can dribble, I don’t know how many…Look at Rayan [Cherki] for example, he does it every match.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Éric Abidal spent three seasons at the club from 2004 to 2007, helping them win three Ligue 1 titles before making a move to Barcelona.

Lyon wanted him to be their new sporting director, an offer which, according to the 2006 World Cup runner-up, was not appealing enough.

Abidal told Free Foot, “I was contacted by OL. I had a discussion with them. It is a club with enormous potential. Now I am not sure that it is currently structured in the way it would be necessary to have stability.”

He adds that he believes there is a gap between the club’s structure and the football part, which factored into his decision to decline the offer.

According to the two-time UEFA Champions League winner at Barcelona, there is no stability at Lyon right now regarding sporting decisions, something he says is a mistake.

After announcing his retirement as a player, Abidal served as the director of football at Barcelona from June 2018 until his sacking in August 2020 after his side were routed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarter-final clash.

Abidal began his footballing career at Lyon Duchère before moving to the Principality at AS Monaco between 2000 and 2002.

On three occasions, he was named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year while at Lyon, and he was also on the 2007 UEFA Team of the Year, with his side topping a Champions League group that featured Real Madrid in 2006-07.

Last month, Lyon parted ways with David Friio reportedly because of his inability to move players on high wages out of the club.

That left him at odds with owner John Textor, as their relationship had reportedly been on shaky ground for months. During the summer transfer window, the club made more than 20 signings and said goodbye to over a dozen players.

At the same time, they failed to get some high-profile players off their books, including Anthony Lopes (34), who is still at the club but as fourth-choice goalkeeper.

Earlier this week L’Équipe reported that former Dijon defender Daniel Congré will become the club’s new Sporting Coordinator. He won’t be involved in recruiting or any decision-making but instead mental preparation.

L’Équipe understands that Les Gones do not plan to replace Friio, who was axed as the Lyon sporting director last month.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

The former defender is not set to replace Lyon’s ex-sporting director, David Friio, who was axed from his role in September. Les Gones do not plan to replace Friio in his role, L’Équipe understands. Congré will not be involved in decision-making on recruitment, instead focusing on mental preparation and nutrition. 

OL chief scout Matthieu Louis-Jean is now expected to take on a larger role as the chief decision-maker on the transfer front. Congré was not always considered the favourite for the role of sporting coordinator at Lyon in recent weeks, with Anthony Réveillère also considered for the role in recent weeks. However, OL opted to offer the former Toulouse player the role. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Despite the agreed deal with beIN, there has been no forthright payment to Ligue 1 clubs from LFP. As a result, Lyon have taken action against the matter. L’Équipe understands Les Gones have sent an incendiary letter to the governing body signed by the general manager of the Rhône club, Laurent Prud’homme. 

OL are not the only club who are angry with the situation. Clubs across the French top flight are angry with the broadcast deal and the failure to deliver the first payment and the sudden drop in commercial tv revenues, but Lyon are the only club to launch an official complaint to LFP. Within the letter, Prud’homme criticises the reduced revenues clubs are set to receive due to the broadcast deal. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The France U21 international continued to impress during Les Gones’ match against Les Canaris after working his way back into the first team at the Groupama Stadium. However, an eye-catching display was put to a perhaps premature end when he was replaced by Nuamah in the 65th minute. Pierre Sage confirmed that the 21-year-old suffered discomfort, “There is a small alert, we have to check.”

Les Espoirs participation in doubt 

Cherki is due to join up with his Les Espoirs teammates on Monday after being included in Gérald Baticle’s squad for the upcoming international break. The Lyon academy graduate will undergo medical tests to understand the extent of any potential injury. If the tests show any sign of injury, Cherki will not be released for France U21 duty and stay at the Rhône club to focus on his recovery. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

After failing to secure a move away from Groupama Stadium, Lopes has been demoted to fourth-choice keeper at his boyhood club, with Lucas Perri taking his spot as first choice. The treatment of the OL stopper has been largely criticised by supporters and it appears there is no way back with the relationship in tatters – something Liverpool could take advantage of.  

The Reds are currently suffering from a crisis in the goalkeeper position. Alisson Becker had to be substituted in their 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, leaving them with no recognised option on the bench. Nursing a hamstring injury, the Brazilian international is set to be out for several weeks, Arne Slot has confirmed. Caiohmin Kelleher was also absent due to illness and has made no secret of his desire to leave Anfield and become a first-choice keeper elsewhere. Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros had to be relied upon from the bench and did well. Nevertheless, after such an impressive start to the season, Slot may want a more senior and experienced option. 

Lopes could be this more experienced option. At present, the goalkeeper is training away from the first team and earning a reported €80,000 a week. Les Gones were willing to allow the Portuguese international to leave on a free transfer in the window to free up his wages. If the club and player could reach an agreement to terminate his contract, Liverpool would be able to sign Lopes on a free transfer.  

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Moses Simon had the first big chance of the game for the visitors after he escaped into a dangerous position, but Perri was able to close down the angle at his near post and deny the Nigerian. However, it would be Lyon that opened the scoring. Benrahma’s inswinging cross allowed Tagliafico to make a near post run and convert beyond Lafont. 

Nantes almost equalised through their captain Chirivella, who was unmarked at the back post, but a vital intervention saw Tagliafio block the shot and force a corner. Cherki then went close to scoring a second for Les Gones and one that could’ve been a contender for goal of the season. The 20-year-old beat two players with dancing feet before bending his shot goalwards but Lafont was equal to it. 

After an impressive display midweek, Fofana continued to cause problems and went close with an effort from a tight angle, which hit the post. Les Gones deservedly led 1-0 at the break. 

In the second half, Lyon continued to put sustained pressure on Lafont’s goal and were rewarded with a second goal. Tolisso’s dangerous cross was turned into the Nantes net by their own player as Nicolas Pallois couldn’t evade the low ball. Abline went close to finding Nantes a route back into the match, but Perri palmed his effort away from goal. Almost instantly, Nuamah went up the other end of the pitch and hit the post.  Mostafa Mohamed threatened late on but Perri was equal to his effort. 

Mikautadze almost scored his first goal for the club but Lafont denied his effort and Caqueret squandered a good opportunity on the rebound. This would be the last chance of the game with OL running out deserved winners and extending their winning run to 4 matches.  

Lyon player ratings: 

Lucas Perri: 7

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 6 – The Englishman fought a tough battle with Moses Simon, but more often than not, the Nigerian international came out on top. Most of the visitors’ promising moments came down the Lyon right with the former Arsenal right-back regularly targeted but holding his own on a difficult afternoon winning more duels than any other player. 

Duje Ćaleta-Car: 6

Moussa Niakhaté: 6

Nicolás Tagliafico: 7 – In both boxes, the World Cup winner was largely influential. Scoring the opening goal, the defender showed great attacking awareness to make his run to the near post. In defence, the Argentine provided a couple of vital interventions and put in a solid all-round display.

Corentin Tolisso: 6

Jordan Veretout: 5

Saïd Benrahma: 7

Rayan Cherki: 7 – Continuing his good run of form, the 20-year-old provided another confident showing. Although there were no goal contributions, Cherki caused danger with his quick feet and choice of pass. On another day, the OL academy graduate could have scored a truly impressive brace. 

Malick Fofana: 6

Alexandre Lacazette: 5

GFFN | Liam Wraith

It was a busy summer for the US international midfielder after representing his country at the Olympics and being involved in a transfer. The 23-year-old was linked with several clubs following the Olympic Games but it was Lyon who won the race to secure his services. Les Gones paid €6m including bonuses to sign the American midfielder from Venezia.

Tessmann caught the interest of clubs across Europe after a series of impressive displays for his country at the Olympics. Lyon and other interested clubs are not the only parties he caught the eye of, with Pochettino clearly impressed by his displays. The former Venezia midfielder is expected to be included in the former Chelsea manager’s first squad as USMNT head coach to be announced in the coming days. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith