Olympique Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca highlighted the threat posed by Fenerbahçe SK ahead of their crucial match, stating his team is conscious of their opponent's quality. According to a report by Hürriyet Spor from a press conference at Lyon's training facilities, Fonseca emphasized his players' motivation and their desire to write history for the club.
Fenerbahçe SK currently sits 8th in the Süper Lig with 3 points from 2 matches, having recorded one win and one loss. The team has scored 5 goals while conceding 4, resulting in a +1 goal difference. They trail league leaders Gençlerbirliği S.K. by 3 points. The team's top scorer this season is M. Greenwood with 2 goals in 2 appearances. Fenerbahçe's next league fixture is at home against 4th-placed Trabzonspor on 2026-12-13, a match visible on our fixtures page.
What is Lyon's plan against Fenerbahçe?
Paulo Fonseca detailed how his team plans to approach the game against the Turkish side. The Portuguese manager noted that Fenerbahçe can be dangerous on counter-attacks and stressed the need to pay attention to defensive transitions. Fonseca said, "Fenerbahçe is not coming to defend, but also to win, which is normal. That's why we need to be very balanced." He added that Lyon wants to play their own game by taking the initiative and attack as much as possible whenever they get the chance.
The manager thinks the match will be open because both teams will come out to win. He reiterated that they know Fenerbahçe can be dangerous in attacking transitions. Fonseca stated the team prepared tactically and that the players' fitness was important to him. He explained that playing a player 3-4 matches in a row is not easy, which is why they decided to implement rotation.
How is the team's motivation?
Fonseca said his players are very motivated for this important match and gave a very positive response. "Motivation is very valuable. This match is easy in terms of finding motivation," said the experienced coach, recalling the club's history and that they haven't entered the Champions League in recent years. He emphasized they want to write history for the club and that it is important and essential for them.
Lois Openda also told the press, "We feel the expectation, but it's not a negative expectation. Everyone is eager to play." Fonseca said that when you look at the investments made, you see Lyon is a different club today. He stated they are ambitious and also want to achieve something that will be written in history. Everyone is motivated to write history, he added, saying he has always been positive and there is a big opportunity here.
How was the rotation decision made?
The Portuguese manager emphasized the importance of rotation, saying he carried it out because he believes in all his players. Fonseca said the players gave a very positive response and reaction, and that he is trying to explain to his players the importance of finding a balance. He described the situation as extremely balanced and repeated that the match is important for the club and for writing the club's recent history.
Fonseca said they are aware of the opponent's quality and also commented on Fenerbahçe's supporters. "Fenerbahçe has a wonderful fan base, they are emotional but not aggressive. They have fans who love football very much," he said. Lyon is preparing for this important challenge with a squad you can view on our squad page. The Süper Lig standings page allows tracking of the team's league position and points.
Fenerbahçe SK will continue its journey in the league after this tough away match. The team will strive to climb from its current 8th position and will expect efficiency from its attacking line, particularly from Greenwood who carries the goal-scoring burden. The defense needs a flawless performance, as the 4 goals conceded so far is an issue that requires attention.
