Metz vs Lyonnais preview - Fournier keeping a cool head

Posted Saturday, August 30, 2014 by PA

Lyon travel to Metz on Sunday with coach Hubert Fournier refusing to panic following their Europa League exit in midweek.

OL won 1-0 in Romania but exited the competition on away goals after Astra had claimed a 2-1 victory at the Stade de Gerland a week earlier.

Despite the early European exit, the victory ended a three-game losing streak and Fournier managed to find some positives as his team prepared for a fifth game in 15 days.

"One must keep his cool," he told a press conference.

"It takes a physical game in Metz not to concede goals and we'll have opportunities.

"I'm not worried because we had a positive reaction during the game. We went down fighting and with pride.

"But this is not a blessing in disguise, we can have more than a game a week especially with the return of the injured. I am not afraid of busy weeks.

"We'll have more time to work to go a little further."

But despite the coach's apparent relishing of a packed schedule, he was quick to admit that his team may be at a disadvantage due to fatigue.

"We will travel with a group that will play their fifth straight game," he added. "This is not the case of FC Metz. It should be taken into account.

"We go there with a fierce determination to make the best possible result."

Lindsay Rose was suspended for the match in Romania and his return looks to be the only change to the squad to face Metz.

The home side are still searching for their first win of the season but have been boosted by the midweek signings of Modibo Maiga and Sergey Krivets.

Maiga joined on loan from Premier League side West Ham and Krivets signed a three-year deal after moving from BATE Borisov.

Both players could go straight into the squad to face Lyon and boss Albert Cartier said at Krivet's unveiling on Friday: "I saw a very good quality performance at training this morning.

"In general, the arrival of new recruits this week has boosted the desire and brought more pleasure during training sessions."