Lyon face up to Ronaldo and Juventus as Juninho era struggles for lift
LYON:Anthony Lopes describes Cristiano Ronaldo as "extraordinary", and the Lyon goalkeeper knows how big a job he faces keeping his Portuguese international colleague quiet when the French side face Juventus in the Champions League this week.
"I have been lucky enough to play alongside him. He is the captain and an extraordinary personality, a great man," Lopes told AFP when asked about playing with Ronaldo.
Lopes, 29, was born near Lyon and has spent his entire club career there. But thanks to his Portuguese roots he has won seven caps and been to two major tournaments with Ronaldo, including Euro 2016 which Portugal won.
"I have gone to major tournaments with him, the Euro and the World Cup, where you have to develop links to those around you, and to do what he does every day is quite incredible," Lopes added. "Players today take great inspiration from him."
On Wednesday, OL host Ronaldo and the Italian giants in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Lyon are massive underdogs against a Juve side in a hurry for Champions League success given the massive investment they made in Ronaldo, who recently turned 35.
Last year it was Lionel Messi who put Lyon to the sword at this stage, scoring twice as Barcelona won 5-1 in the second leg after a goalless draw in France.
"When you play Barca or Juve, the danger comes from everywhere," Lopes said, adding: "All eyes will be on Ronaldo, especially in the stands."
Lyon want to become regulars in the Champions League knockout stage, but they only just scraped through their group and have since lost star player Memphis Depay to a serious knee injury.
OL are currently seventh in Ligue 1, seven points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots for next season.
Coach Rudi Garcia has struggled to win over supporters who were unimpressed at the decision to appoint him in October after the failed experiment with Brazilian novice Sylvinho.
"We know our future and our chances of being in the Champions League again next season will go down to the wire," Lopes said.
Lyon president since 1987, Jean-Michel Aulas prefers to point out that they remain in every competition -- they face Paris Saint-Germain in both the French Cup semi-finals and the League Cup final.
Supporters are impatient for a first trophy since 2012, too long for a club who are France's second-richest behind PSG.
The latest Deloitte Football Money League ranking of the world's richest clubs has Lyon 17th with revenue of 220.8 million euros ($240m).
They are well behind PSG's 636 million euros, and Juventus on 460 million euros. Nevertheless, Lyon's potential is clear.
In 2016 they opened a stunning 59,000-seat stadium which has hosted the women's World Cup final. Their women's team is Europe's best, and the club recently bought Reign FC, the US team of Megan Rapinoe.
Lyon's stock market-listed holding company, OL Groupe, is expected to soon welcome French former NBA star Tony Parker onto its board -- OL Groupe holds a sizeable stake in ASVEL, the local basketball club which is France's most successful.
But fans fear OL's ever-growing off-field status will not be matched by on-field results.
"We know not many of the supporters wanted Rudi Garcia, but it is down to the president, the board and me to make decisions," sporting director Juninho told Le Progres.
The Brazilian, a legendary former player, returned last summer but his attempts at building a new team have not yet convinced.
Lyon sold stars like Nabil Fekir, Tanguy Ndombele and Ferland Mendy in the close season, while sizeable investments in new signings have yet to bear fruit.
"We have an inconsistent team, but there are no bad guys. Most of the players are 24 or 25, have not won many trophies, and lack a bit of the culture that existed at the club when I played," said Juninho.
How they could have done with the Brazilian in his pomp against Juventus. Getting the better of Ronaldo and co. is a huge challenge for Lyon's current crop.
-
上一篇
-
下一篇
相关推荐
-
Update your BIOS: Utilities from Top Motherboard Makers
-
聚焦民生实事 为群众解忧纾困
-
US needs to reassure allies against North Korean threats: US expert
-
Messi Mania sets off social media, ticketing boom
-
Gastro Obscura's Guide to Where to Eat in Nashville
-
Are 'love languages' the key to healthy relationships? Scientists say no.
- 最近发表
-
- NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- IRS refund tracker: How to track your refund online
- MLB will debut a metaverse stadium for the celebrity All
- 村干部能干不能干 民主测评说了算
- Update your BIOS: Utilities from Top Motherboard Makers
- Pence booed and heckled at conservative conference: “Traitor!”
- U.S. Catholic bishops take major step toward possible rebuke of Biden.
- Open footwear in summer dangerous for diabetics, experts say
- Elon Musk's AI facility is reportedly operating gas turbines without a permit
- Chelsea vow brighter future
- 随机阅读
-
- Europe now has a huge AI gap, for better or for worse
- 促进企业奖补兑现 提振企业发展信心
- US denies hostile intent, reiterates willingness to talk with North Korea
- 黄键:服务皇木 干出精彩
- What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- CES 2023: Meet the selfie
- LELO SIRI 3: LELO just launched a sound
- In unilateral vote led by opposition, Assembly passes resolution against Fukushima water release
- Coach jailed for sexual exploitation of underage athlete
- Confederate nostalgia, the Lost Cause, and the history of soybeans in the South
- Why is Merrick Garland defending Donald Trump?
- Mark Zuckerberg wants to be like Augustus Caesar. How close is he?
- 雅安市第四人民医院:工娱治疗让患者康复之路充满希望
- Hamstering TikTok trend explained: are people actually doing it?
- U.S. Catholic bishops take major step toward possible rebuke of Biden.
- S. Korea marks 3rd year since Korean War hero Gen. Paik's death
- 'Terminator Zero' creators find fresh life in sci
- Sexual assaults are happening in VR. What can we do about it?
- Critical race theory: This isn’t the first Republican backlash.
- Why police car chases keep killing people.
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-