One To Watch
Georges Mikautadze: Lyon’s Attacker Rounding Into Form
Lyon are fighting for a European spot next season and have reached the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals, where they’ll face Manchester United with a place in the semifinals at stake.
With so many challenging fixtures ahead, OL's Mikautadze gaining goal-scoring confidence is a welcome sign for Les Gones. Since February, Mikautadze has scored three goals and recorded three assists in six Ligue 1 McDonald’s matches.
Following his goal against Montpellier on February 16, Mikautadze revealed what he’d been working on behind the scenes to help him find the back of the net more consistently, and it’s beginning to pay off.
“Of course, I’m a player who likes having the ball. I talked with the coach about it, and we watched some videos together. He told me I don’t need to touch the ball too much. The key is scoring goals, which I did [against Montpellier]. We’ll see what else I can improve on. It’s a positive sign for what’s to come.”
The Georgian attacker has also been scoring in international competitions for OL in recent weeks. He registered two goals and three assists in the Europa League Round of 16 tie against FCSB.
Whether it's in Ligue 1 McDonald's or Europa League, Mikautadze has also shown that he can produce coming off the bench or as a starter in this recent good form.
Last month, Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca also stated what Mikautadze needed to improve in his eyes to take another step in his career.
"He needs to learn to channel his efforts more effectively. He works hard for the team and wants to be involved a lot, but he must understand that managing certain phases is key to being more efficient in front of goal."
The 24-year-old will be looking to continue this impressive form when club football returns from the FIFA international break. Lyon will face RC Strasbourg as they look to move into a UEFA Champions League spot, trailing third-place AS Monaco (47 points) by two points.
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