John Textor explains decision to sack Pierre Sage as Lyon manager | OneFootball

Pierre Sage, the architect of Olympique Lyonnais’ miraculous climb up the table from the relegation places in February to an unlikely UEFA Europa League qualification in May, was sacked last week.

No team registered more points in the second half of last season in Ligue 1, not even eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. However, that form has not been consistently repeated this season and after three consecutive draws (against Toulouse FC, Fenerbahçe, and FC Nantes), Sage was relieved of his duties.

In an interview with Canal Plus, OL owner John Textor explained his decision. Initially, his advisors were against the decision, as he revealed.

“I asked my football staff: ‘Should we make a move on the coach right now?” and they said ‘No, it’s crazy, it’s too risky, and we shouldn’t do it.’ So I said, ‘Well, okay, second question: do you think we can make it to the Champions League with this coach?’. They said no. So I said, ‘Third question: Do you want to give up on the ambition of Champions League football this season?’ They said, ‘Of course not’. So I said, ‘I’ll ask a fourth question. It’s the same as the first: should we make a move on the coach?’ And then they all said yes,” said Textor.

Textor was very quickly replaced on the bench by Paulo Fonseca, who was recently sacked by AC Milan. He was in the stands as OL drew to Ludogorets in the Europa League in midweek and then on the bench for his first game at the weekend – against fierce rivals Olympique de Marseille. His tenure got off to a losing start after a late Luis Henrique strike gave OM a slender victory (3-2).

GFFN | Luke Entwistle