Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Lyon’s puzzle, between versatility and inconsistency | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles remains Lyon’s puzzle, his broad versatility offset by inconsistency that appears tied to his rapport with the coach.

At Lorient on Sunday, OL lost 1-0 and he was sent off moments after the goal, booked twice in five minutes. He left with his habitual impassive expression.

Inside the club he is seen as a mood player, thriving when the connection is right and dipping when it is not. In April 2024 the 28-year-old said Sage’s arrival made him enjoy football again, the coach now at Lens.

Sage later benched him last winter as personal issues hurt his output. This season there is no Saël Kumbedi, who moved to Wolfsburg, and his old links with Rayan Cherki and a more distant Corentin Tolisso have faded.

Paulo Fonseca gives him less licence. Under Sage he often stepped inside to bolster midfield, unsettling opponents and adding options.

Fonseca said on Wednesday that Maitland-Niles is quick, strong defensively and rich in attacking qualities, but the task is to find mental balance so he reaches his maximum more often. He has five England caps from 2020, joined on a free in 2023, was marginal under Fabio Grosso with 84 minutes in seven matches, and later said the coach never asked how he felt. Since then he has mattered again for OL, versatile across roles, if not always consistent.

Source: L'Équipe