How the Injured Fellows Are Doing

By: Inara | September 13th, 2007

Lyon have been all about the injuries since even before the season began (we started having our injury crisis during the Peace Cup). Luckily, most of the players suffered minor knocks that had them fit in a week or two, but some were more serious and require a longer lay off.

Coupet Gregory Coupet - Torn ligament in his left knee (August 2)

His surgery was successful, and it’s been over a month since he’s started rehabilitation. It’ll still be a while before he can return to practice, but the club can see the light at the end of the tunnel. He’s targeted his return for the match against Rangers in Glasgow, on December 12th. To keep himself busy, Coupet, who openly admits that he’d like to be a rugby player in another life, is enthusiastically throwing himself into the Rugby World Cup, which is taking place all over France, including Lyon.

Fun fact: During the OL - Le Mans match, Coupet and Sonny Anderson got the other OL players to wear warm up shirts that said that Olympique Lyonnais supports France’s national rugby team.

Cris - Torn ligament in his right knee (August 11th)

After his surgery, he and his family have returned to Brazil to spend time with their families as he recovers. The doctors over there (probably at Cruzeiro) will be monitoring his progress. He hasn’t given us a target return date, but don’t expect him back until January at the earliest.

Fun fact: His wife Tatiane actually likes living in Lyon and is a big part of the reason that Cris isn’t wanting a move to a bigger club. QJA thoughtfully translated an interview by her, which you can read in the comments section of this post.

Fredji is back - let’s hope with a new attitude.

Fred - Broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot (June 27th)

It’s been two and a half months since he was injured, and now Fred is well enough to return to light training. He isn’t participating in scrimmages or anything strenuous, just some light jogging and stretching to ease him back to fitness. He still won’t be able to play for several weeks, but Lyon will survive in the league without him, and he’s suspended from the first three Champions League matches anyway.

Fun fact: his hair has gotten big again. It’s getting quite monstrous, actually. Hopefully Lacombe will tell him to get another haircut before he appears in the CL.

Patrick Muller has resumed light training, though the website hasn’t been clear on whether he’s fully healed or not. Hatem Ben Arfa is back in action and will be ready to take on Metz this Saturday. Last weekend, Alain Perrin received a scare when the Czech Republic reported that Milan Baros had picked up a back injury and had to sit out against San Marino, but it turns out it was nothing, so Baros is just fine.