Olympique Lyonnais defender Moussa Niakhaté has voiced his strong support for head coach Paulo Fonseca following the manager’s suspension by the LFP Disciplinary Committee.
The Portuguese coach will be absent from the touchline until November 30 after an altercation with referee Benoît Millot during the recent match against Brest.
Fonseca’s suspension comes at a critical juncture for Lyon, who are set to face FCSB in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The absence of their coach presents a significant challenge, but Niakhaté insists the squad remains united behind their manager.
“We follow the news like everyone else, but in any case, we are all with the coach,” the Senegalese international stated. “We are all Lyonnais, we win together, we lose together.
When there are events like this, we all come together. We will wait with the decision in a few hours, but whatever happens, we are with the coach 100%.”
The defender underlined Fonseca’s professionalism and the positive influence he has had on the team since his arrival.
“We will try to have a very good match for him. We know what he is like, he is a very respectful person, we have seen him for a month that he has been here. This match tomorrow, we will try to win it for him,” Niakhaté added.
The suspension places additional pressure on Lyon as they seek to progress in the Champions League.
However, Niakhaté’s comments reflect the squad’s determination to rally around their coach and deliver a strong performance in his absence.
Fonseca’s absence from the touchline could prove a significant blow, but Lyon’s players appear resolute in their commitment to securing victory as a show of solidarity. The team’s ability to maintain focus and unity could be decisive in their European campaign.
