Pierre Sage claims ‘Lyon must adapt to’ Saïd Benrahma

Olympique Lyonnais manager Pierre Sage has cautioned patience for loanee Saïd Benrahma (28) as he adapts to the demands of his new club. 

Speaking ahead of Lyon’s trip to FC Metz on Friday evening, Sage explained that Benrahma “ needs to play, to see how his teammates play, how the team plays, that is to say, to integrate what the staff asks. But every match is a step forward .” 

The forward only joined at the start of the month following a tumultuous post-deadline day deal with West Ham United, and still needs time to understand his role within the team. However, Sage believes that this responsibility to adjust to the club should not fall squarely on the shoulders of the signing. 

“ I told him face to face that it is not only up to him to adapt, that it is also the team that must adapt to him. ” Sage continued, “ This is true for everyone. If each player entered the common framework, we would lose a little of their particular talent, and that is not the idea. ”

Lyon have entered a purple patch in a season that had threatened to be enveloped in a relegation crisis. A victory against Metz would see Les Gones put a seven-point gap between them and the relegation play-off and would continue a momentum that has looked to be building since Sage took over in December. 

Ligue 1 Review | Olympico victory fuels Lyon’s hopes of ‘mediocre season’.

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GFFN | Nick Hartland