Luis Enrique believes Lyon will challenge PSG for the Ligue 1 title next season | OneFootball

It is fair to say that it has been a tale of two halves for Olympique Lyonnais this season. In December, the club were rock-bottom of Ligue 1 and many had consigned them to an improbable relegation to Ligue 2. However, no team in France’s top flight performed better than OL in the second half of the campaign. Had the season started in January, Lyon would be first in Ligue 1 with 37 points, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

Granted, PSG’s thoughts have been elsewhere. In an attempt to increase their chances of UEFA Champions League glory, Luis Enrique has experimented in the league, resting players, whilst also preparing for life post-Kylian Mbappé. Those experiments have yielded varying results and the drop-off since mid-February in particular has been noticeable. However, the Ligue 1 title has long since been guaranteed and those experiments, both successful and unsuccessful, have had no bearing on PSG’s domestic campaign.

However, as is the case every season, all teams start on zero points when August comes back around. Given OL’s form in 2024, Luis Enrique expects Pierre Sage’s side to challenge for the title next season. “I think that since Sage’s arrival, everything has changed. Their statistics are incredible, he has turned around a difficult situation and he has an incredible team. I think this team will be able to compete for the title with us next season,” said Luis Enrique.

Ahead of Saturday’s Coupe de France final against Lyon, he added, “We will have to be wary of them.” Whilst PSG will be the favourites, Lyon have significant momentum going into the tie, having already secured qualification for next season’s UEFA Europa League through their league standing.

Speaking exclusively to Get French Football News, Jake O’Brien is confident. “I think we have a lot of momentum going into it. We have the fans behind us and a good atmosphere in the team. PSG will be the big favourites going into it, as they always are but I can only see a win for us. I’m sure the lads here think the same. We have the quality and the players to do it. We will look to win and not just sit back,” said the Irishman.

Challenging PSG is the more long-term goal for O’Brien and Lyon: “I think long-term, we have to push because it’s a very historical club and we need to be winning titles. I think we need to push higher and challenge PSG – that’s very important. That can start this weekend. It would be great to stop them from taking another cup and winning one ourselves.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle