Lyon Sacks Coach Despite Putting Club Back on Track 

Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
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Lyon Sacks Coach Despite Putting Club Back on Track 

Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)

Lyon coach Pierre Sage has been fired, the French league club said on Tuesday.

His dismissal followed a 1-1 draw with Nantes over the weekend and left some observers baffled. Sage had rapidly become a fans’ favorite after guiding Lyon from the bottom of the standings to a sixth-place finish last season.

And after 19 matches this season, Lyon is sixth in the league, just four points off a Champions League spot.

Lyon, however, said the decision to part ways with Sage was a “sporting choice.” Lyon is owned by American businessman John Textor, who visited the club in person this week.

The seven-time French champions added that his firing “does not call into question the tremendous work carried out at the beginning of 2024, for which Olympique Lyonnais will always be grateful to Pierre Sage and his team.”



Spurs Midfielder Maddison Silences Critics with Winner Against Man United 

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Spurs Midfielder Maddison Silences Critics with Winner Against Man United 

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

James Maddison delivered the perfect riposte to his doubters by scoring the winning goal against Manchester United after the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder had come in for some stinging criticism in the lead-up to Sunday's Premier League match.

Making his first start since suffering a calf injury in December, Maddison tapped in a rebound from close range to give his side a 1-0 win in London, celebrating his goal with a shushing gesture.

Earlier in the week, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane had said anyone who thought Maddison's return to the side would help Spurs break into the top six was living in "cuckoo land."

"He got relegated with Leicester and he'll get relegated with Spurs," Keane said on "The Overlap" podcast.

"There was a little bit of outside noise this week," Maddison, who joined Spurs from Leicester City in 2023, told Sky Sports.

"People will have their opinions, but I wanted to do my talking on the pitch. I hope there is a certain few that enjoyed me being the match-winner today.

"Nobody is more critical of myself than me," he added.

"To be fair to the gaffer, he always talks about blocking out the outside noise, but sometimes it's difficult, you know. It's constantly in your face, social media and WhatsApp."

Despite the win Spurs remain in the bottom half of the table, sitting in 12th spot on 30 points after 25 games. They visit Ipswich Town on Saturday.