Just like at home. On January 2, 2023, Dejan Lovren returned to Olympique Lyonnais, ten years after his departure. The Croatian immediately said yes when Les Gones, who were looking for an experienced defender, called him. I’m very pleased to be back at Olympique Lyonnais. It was the club that opened the doors to foreign football for me, I never will. I have a lot of memories here, also a lot of ties, especially with President Jean Michel Aulas, who has nothing. The times supported me. I left Lyon in 2013 regretting it because I felt I hadn’t shown everything. I need to show everyone what kind of player I really am. “
During his first six months at Lyon, the former Liverpool player has shown that he still has a lot to do despite being 33 years old. A true follower of Castello Lukeba and Sinaly Dioguydé, whom he advised, led with honour and established as one of the leaders of the team. He finished his half-season with 21 appearances in all competitions, all as a starter (1 but). A more than decent balance for the player, who finished the year in the infirmary after a thigh injury, which caused him to miss the last 3 games of the final sprint. Despite this, the citizens of the Groupama Stadium were counting on him for the new season.
A season that started like the previous one, that is, injured. At pre-season level in the Netherlands, he was only on the pitch for 10 minutes in the friendly against third-tier Dutch side De Treffers (2-1). Suffering from a muscle injury, Lovren returned to the infirmary and watched helplessly as his club descended into hell. For his part, the defender did not improve as he injured his pelvis in an educational consultation in mid-September. Finally, he made his first appearance of the season on 8 October against Lorient (3–3). We thought Lovren’s comeback was good news for Lyon, who lacked character and leadership.
But Zenica’s location didn’t have the expected effect. It started against Clermont (22 October) and then came against Rennes (1 minute, 22 November) and Lille (26 minutes, 26 November). Grosso returned to the starting eleven for Pierre Sage’s debut against Lens on 2 December (85 minutes). He was selected against Marseille (81 minutes, 6 December), Toulouse (82 minutes, 10 December), Monaco (90 minutes, 15 December) and Nantes (84 minutes, 20 December). An attack in which he saw the red card. Overall, the Croatian’s departures have not been striking. Also, as we revealed on our website, the door didn’t close the OL look for a winter outing.
But in January, the Croatian, who has a gigantic salary, did not budge. He gave the impression of playing against Bergerac in the Coupe de France (90 minutes, 19 January) and against Rennes in L1 (90 minutes, 26 January). Since then, nothing. In the squad against OM (4 February), he did not come on as a substitute. Then, the player, betrayed in his body, was absent against Lille, Montpellier and Nice. He was in the squad to face Metz. Strasbourg, Lens and Lorient. Lovren, who has not played for almost two months and whose attitude is exemplary according to the echoes coming from the club, is no longer very well placed in the hierarchy of centre-backs. Sage is based on the duo of Jake O’Brien and Duje Caleta and Car.
Flexible right-back Clinton Mata can also help in this position or in a three-man formula at the back. Adryelson, who arrives this winter, is content with the crumbs. Sinaly Diomandé has not played since November 26. OL, who have obviously figured out winning form this season, are not very reassuring defensively. But Lovren, who had his card to play, lost his place. He came close through Dinamo Zagreb, who tried to win back the creator of the space on loan, ended up staying between Rhône and Saône. Besiktas were also interested, we were told. This summer, Dejan Lovren (11 caps) will still have to ask himself the right questions, as he still has a contract with OL until 2025. According to our set-up, an exit from Lyon is still expected.