Lyon played in a Champions League semi-final three years ago. They are now in danger of playing in Ligue 2
By Adam White for Get French Football News
In August 2020, Lyon beat Manchester City to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Three years on, they are bottom of Ligue 1. Despite their catastrophic current campaign, the decline has been steady but sure. They are an example of how not to run a top-tier modern football club. The 2-1 home defeat on Sunday to Clermont, who were bottom themselves at kick-off, is the latest sign that one of France’s grandest clubs is now under genuine threat of relegation.
Haphazard transfer business is the most glaring of Lyon’s recent failings. Successful additions since that win over City have been rare. Lucas Paquetá, signed from Milan in September 2020 before moving to West Ham last year, is one of few exceptions along with the €4.2m spent on World Cup winner Nicolás Tagliafico in 2022. Alexandre Lacazette’s 31-goal return last season was also triumphant on an individual level.
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