Fonseca set for Lyon baptism against Marseille

While four French clubs secured progress to the knockout phase of the Champions League this week, another was busy firing a popular coach as Lyon parted company with Pierre Sage and lined up Paulo Fonseca as his replacement.

A complete unknown when he was appointed in November 2023 to take over a team languishing at the foot of the table, Sage revived Lyon's fortunes in dramatic fashion, taking them to European qualification and a French Cup final which they lost to Paris Saint-Germain.

However, he has paid the price for a run of five games without a win this month which included a Cup exit on penalties against fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu, with American owner John Textor showing no mercy.

Caretaker coach Jorge Maciel therefore oversaw Thursday's 1-1 draw with Ludogorets of Bulgaria on Thursday that clinched their place in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Fonseca was watching in the stands, getting an idea of the task he faces in trying to lead Lyon to Champions League qualification, which the club urgently needs to ease their massive debts.

Recently sacked by AC Milan, Fonseca only left Ligue 1 at the end of last season after impressing during two years in charge at Lille.

The Portuguese therefore has greater pedigree than Sage, but the latter was a much respected figure among Lyon fans who have been perplexed by his sacking.

Yet Textor seems completely unconcerned by what certain supporters might think, and was seen on camera stopping for selfies with some members of the crowd on Thursday.

Lyon's results have undoubtedly been affected by off-field issues, with the club being forced to sell players in the January transfer window to reduce the wage bill.

They have been hit with a ban from signing players this month because of their financial problems and have been threatened with relegation at the end of the season if they do not significantly reduce debts.

"Is this not fun? I'm having fun," Textor remarked this week to AFP when asked about the instability at the club.

"There is never a bad time to make a good decision," added the American – whose Eagle Football Group also owns Brazilian and South American champions Botafogo, and has a large minority stake in Crystal Palace – in relation to Sage's sacking.

"There is no such thing as perfect timing, so I am not worried about whether I have made the decision at the right time or not."

Now it is over to Lyon's players, including veterans Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, and Argentina playmaker Thiago Almada – allowed to sign on loan from Botafogo despite the transfer ban – to do the job on the pitch for Fonseca.

A win in Marseille on Sunday will see Lyon close to within four points of their opponents, who are second.

"We are adapting. We are trying to stay focused on what we have to do, in our bubble," Rayan Cherki told broadcaster Canal Plus.

"We can't do anything about the decisions being made upstairs."

Player to watch: Kyogo Furuhashi

The Japanese international this week arrived at crisis club Rennes from Celtic after scoring 85 goals in 165 appearances in three and a half years in Scotland.

He could have been getting ready to play for Celtic in a glamour Champions League play-off tie in a couple of weeks, but instead will try to help Rennes pull away from the relegation zone in Ligue 1 under new coach Habib Beye.