“Look at this little square, there was the whole village, 3000 to 4000 people, it was madness,” points out Jacques, a baguette under his arm. On August 1, 2018, a few days after the world coronation in Russia, the child of Amplepuis, Corentin Tolisso, comes to exhibit the trophy in the village where he grew up, where he hit his first balloons. Like Mbappé in Bondy or Griezmann in Mâcon, Tolisso was then welcomed as a hero in his village of 5,000 inhabitants, 60 km north-west of Lyon.
On this Monday in August 2020, a change of scenery. The birds have taken over the place. They sing, dance. There is not “a pelo” at Amplepuis, as they say in Lyon. Basically, there is nobody. Not a gone on the street. You can just admire the museum dedicated to Barthélemy Thimonnier, the other local icon. The inventor of the sewing machine.
At the bakery, Michel laughs when we ask him who from Tolisso or Olympique Lyonnais he will support this Wednesday in the semi-final of the Champions League: “Corentin, we love him here. One of my sons plays soccer in Amplepuis (Editor’s note: where Tolisso started football between 6 and 10 years old), and all the kids know Corentin started here. They take a lot of inspiration from him. But it’s a Champions League semi-final. All OL supporters will be for Lyon. The stake is too high. “
But this Wednesday, some, at Amplepuis, will be for Bayern. “You know, we are not far from the Loire department here (Editor’s note: a few kilometers). Some are nostalgic for the Greens (laughs). So Wednesday, they will suddenly be fans of Tolisso, ”regrets Michel. Suddenly, yes. Because the Greens, it is not really the cup of tea of the child of the country. It’s no secret that he has OL in his blood. “Lyon is my favorite club, I am a loyal supporter. Whatever happens, I will always support OL. I will support them in all other matches but not in the next one, of course, ”said the world champion after the feat of Lyonnais against City in the quarter-finals (3-1).
“I still prefer Bayern to qualify”,
“We talked about it. His first feeling was a huge joy to find OL again. He was really happy, it’s really going to be a special match for him, ”says his best friend, Arnaud Bloch. They were trained together at OL. Since, they do not leave each other. “It’s a very special game for me too. My best friend plays for Bayern. So, I hope he will pass. On the other hand, you have my city of heart, my training club, the city where I grew up. I would like OL… to pass too. Even if it means choosing, I still prefer Bayern to qualify, Corentin is like my brother. And then, this is the year when Bayern can win it. The Champions League is one of the only trophies he lacks, ”continues his best friend.
A nod to history, ten years ago, in 2010, Lyon was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the first Champions League semi-final in its history. Tolisso was then 15 years old. And he was a ball collector that evening at the Gerland stadium. “It made my heart ache,” he recalls today. Lyon took 3-0 in the return leg.
“I hope it won’t hurt our hearts too much on Wednesday,” laughs Teddy, sitting on the terrace of a bar in Tarare, a town of 10,000 inhabitants 15 km from Amplepuis. This is where the world champion was born in 1994. In his homage, a stadium was named in his honor last year on the heights of the city. “Coco” had made the trip.
In Tarare too, it is popular. “It is a role model for our young people,” continues Teddy. He is involved in several associations. In addition to being an excellent football player, he gives a very good image of the city. So yes, I will obviously be for OL but at least, if we lose, we can put things into perspective by telling ourselves that a child from here can beat PSG in the final. (laughs). No, I’m kidding, well half. “
