OL: The Lyon sleeps | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais are a side in crisis right now, but new coach Laurent Blanc is banking on a mix of youth experience - most of which comes from the club's celebrated youth academy - to punch through to the other side.

Things came to a head in mid-January following the 2-1 home defeat to Strasbourg that left Lyon ninth in the standings. Karl Toko Ekambi - who has since moved to Rennes on loan - was singled out for criticism by fans as Laurent Blanc's men fell to their eighth defeat of the season. For John Textor's first game at the Groupama Stadium since becoming OL's majority shareholder, things could barely have looked more unstable. 'The hardest thing to do'

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS - RC STRASBOURG ALSACE (1-2) / Highlights (OL - RCSA) 2022/2023

So why exactly have the seven-time Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions been struggling so much? "We have to improve everything, especially in the final third! I keep telling my players its incredible how many chances we are creating and not taking!" Blanc told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "I'm telling you, the hardest thing to do in football is scoring goals. Everybody assumes it's easy, but it is THE most difficult thing!"

OL don't get their man

The January transfer window has come and gone, and with just three arrivals recorded -  compared to a plethora of departures - OL fans have more reasons than ever to grumble.

"I think we could have done better but I guess we have to be content with the work that has been done," said one Lyon fan. "I just hope the new recruits are what the fans and the board hope they are. We're adapting to what others are doing. I think we're coming to the end of a cycle at the club, so better days must lie ahead!"

A deep-lying midfielder was Laurent Blanc's transfer priority, and Lyon tried - but failed - to bring such a player in. "OL did not manage to get the business done, to keep the promises made to Laurent Blanc. In effect, a defensive midfielder," said L'Equipe's head football writer Vincent Duluc. "But I don't think that means they worked any worse than other clubs. It's true though, that their transfer business leaves you with the impression that things weren't planned, weren't very thought-through!"

Ins and outs

Though they were all but shown the door, forward Moussa Dembélé and home-grown midfielder Houssem Aouar decided to stay on and run down their contracts that end this coming summer. One of the club's star performers this term, teenage full-back Malo Gusto, decided to leave for Chelsea, but has returned on loan until the end of the season.

In terms of arrivals, Dejan Lovren is the only man giving fans a reason to smile so far. The 33-year-old Croatian has already brought assurance to a fragile-looking defence, while further up the pitch, Blanc is now banking on youth to deliver.

>> Young guns

Regularly fielding seven or eight youth academy graduates in Lyon's starting XIs, the former PSG coach was rewarded in Troyes when 20-year-old Bradley Barcola struck his first Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal. Rayan Cherki, a rumoured January target for Paris Saint-Germain, also struck at the Stade de l'Aube, confirming his commitment to the Lyon cause!

The victory was sealed by one of the old guard - captain Alexandre Laczette - who  smashed home his 145th goal for Olympique Lyonnais. The seven-time Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions looked better, and have now gone three games without defeat, including two wins away from home.

ESTAC TROYES - OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (1-3) / Highlights (ESTAC - OL) 2022/2023

Caqueret: 'Work hard'

But as they sit in ninth place, 14 points behind the top three, can Lyon still realistically target a European return for next season? "We'll take things as they come," said key midfielder - and OL youth academy graduate - Maxence Caqueret. "Naturally, when you are playing for OL, your aim is to qualify for Europe. Right now, we're pretty far off that, so up to us to work hard, to win our games and hope we will be closer to the European spots come the end of the season!"

Without a home win since October, Lyon will be looking at Sunday's clash with Lens as the sort of test they have to pass if they are to get anywhere near their objectives.