Exclusive | Lyon’s Jake O’Brien: ‘It’s been a crazy, very emotional season. We defied the odds.’

Jake O’Brien (23) joined Olympique Lyonnais for a meagre €1m fee back in August 2023. He arrived as a relatively unknown quantity and judging by Laurent Blanc’s comments upon his arrival at the Groupama Stadium, little was expected. However, he has established himself at Lyon, carving out a place in the defence, finishing a the club’s second top-scorer in Ligue 1 and collectively, participating in one of the great comebacks in recent sporting history. 

As recently as February, Lyon were still in the relegation zone, however, over the second half of the season, no side has picked up more points in Ligue 1 than Les Gones. That form saw them shoot up the table to a finishing position of sixth. Regardless of the result of Saturday’s Coupe de France final against Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon will be playing European football next season, but a season that risked being so disastrous for OL could yet end in silverware. Ahead of the game, Get French Football News spoke with O’Brien. 

Talk us through you’re opening days and weeks at Lyon. Laurent Blanc, OL manager at the time, said that you were ‘under evaluation’. Did it feel as though you were playing for your career at the club from the offset?

I had it in the back of my mind that I could break into the team, eventually, and be given my chance. It took a few games to get in but once I got in, played my first game, and showed the fans what I was about. I haven’t looked back ever since. It’s been a very eventful seasonand I am grateful for the opportunity. 

Since breaking into the first team in October, you’ve looked unphased. How do you explain your quick adaptation to Ligue 1 and life in France? 

I am someone who is open-minded, and open to trying new things. Trying new things has