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11 months ago
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An indisputable starter at OL for more than 10 years, Anthony Lopes sees a potential competitor arriving this winter, the Brazilian Lucas Perri. What calls into question its status?
In terms of seniority, we don’t do any better in Ligue 1. It’s been more than 10 years since Anthony Lopes established himself as a starter in Lyon, and it took an injury for the Portuguese or a suspension to see another goalkeeper in the Gones goals. But that could change, perhaps not immediately, but perhaps sooner rather than later.
In 2021, Peter Bosz wanted to recruit a goalkeeper capable of competing with Lopes, in the person of André Onana, but this did not happen. This winter, Lucas Perri, one of the very good goalkeepers in the Brazilian championship, arrived from Botafogo. Enough to call into question Lopes’ number 1 position? Not right away, since OL are trying hard to send the message that nothing will change this season. Even if Pierre Sage was less categorical, indicating that Lopes was number 1 ” for the moment. »
Competition or not?
“At the moment, we are of the opinion that Anthony Lopes is performing well and that he completely deserves his place, so as long as this level of performance is at this height, there will be no debateexplained the Lyon coach at a press conference. There is no seniority story, no status story, simply a performance story. For the moment, we are completely in this logic. We had an exchange on this subject, it’s quite clear between the two of us. We intend to continue like this. »
We understand the strategy: OL do not want to weaken Lopes, one of the rare executives to have held his position despite the setbacks of Les Gones. However, Sage does not want to make people believe that there is no competition, because according to him competition “ has always existed,” even before Perri arrived. “SIf Anthony had had five consecutive poor performances, and maybe even three, things would surely have happened,” he confided.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
