OL Lyonnes have spent big to reclaim UWCL title, but will it cause issues?

OL Lyonnes (formerly known arsenic Olympique Lyonnais) are the astir palmy squad successful women's shot history. The French broadside person won a grounds 8 UEFA Women's Champions League [UWCL] and 18 French Première Ligue titles, on with 10 Coupe de France Féminine trophies.

American billionaire Michele Kang -- who besides owns NWSL broadside Washington Spirit and recently promoted Women's Super League squad London City Lionesses -- has been the bulk stakeholder successful OL Lyonnes since 2023 and nether her reign, the nine underwent a rebrand of sanction and badge this summertime successful a bid to reclaim their spot astatine the apical of the game, having failed to onshore the UWCL since 2022.

The squad has changed too. Some notable names similar Eugénie Le Sommer, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Ellie Carpenter and Amel Majri person moved connected and been replaced by a big of young endowment including: Jule Brand, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Korbin Shrader, Lily Yohannes, Ingrid Engen and Ashley Lawrence.

And erstwhile Barcelona manager Jonathan Giraldez -- who won 10 of the 12 trophies disposable during his 3 seasons successful Spain -- was hired to negociate them, having finished 2nd successful the NWSL past play and winning the Challenge Cup with the Spirit.

But with specified a stacked squad and the French league a virtual formality, however tin Giraldez marque OL Lyonnes tick successful the UWCL this season?

Giraldez brings a spot of Barcelona to France

Giraldez, who landed his archetypal elder managerial occupation erstwhile Barcelona promoted him from adjunct successful 2021, comes from the schoolhouse of possession and control. He wants his teams to person a monopoly connected the shot and predominate territory with it. Indeed, his Barcelona sides often suffocated opponents, moving the shot astatine gait and uncovering space, portion regularly creating high-quality chances.

OL Lyonnes person lone played doubly successful the league truthful acold this season, aft a big of summertime friendlies that saw them bushed the likes of London City and Eintracht Frankfurt. But they person lined up successful a 4-1-4-1 enactment for the astir part, with 18-year-old USWNT prima Yohannes serving arsenic the deepest subordinate successful midfield and her planetary teammate Lindsey Heaps pushed further up.

The squad physique their attacks successful a 2-3-5 formation, with midfielders taking up precocious positions successful betwixt the opposition's antiaircraft lines with a presumption to moving into the box. Indeed, Heaps led the stats charts with 9 punishment country touches from midfield against Saint-Etienne successful their past league game.

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