In Clairefontaine

Jean-Michel Aulas was all smiles this Tuesday in Clairefontaine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the INF. As a member of the Comex and president of the women’s football committee, “JMA” notably participated in a round table, before answering questions from the media. The former president of Olympique Lyonnais lost a little of his good nature when analyzing the situation of his former club, last in Ligue 1 after 12 days despite a victory against Rennes on Sunday (0-1). The season premiere.

“It’s the heart that speaks because, like all supporters, we are suffering enormously, we were not used to finding ourselves in this situation,” he admits as OL continues to suffer disappointments. since the start of the championship despite the great ambitions announced by new owner John Textor. It is true that success (from OL to Rennes, 1-0 on Sunday), whatever it may be, gives back desire, hope to the supporters and, I am sure, incredible will to the players and the coach to get out of this bad situation.”

If he had taken care at the start of the season to plant a few banners towards the new boss of OL, Jean-Michel Aulas has since adopted a discourse more about restraint. “Economically, the club is not in danger because OL is one of the greatest economic successes of all clubs, French and even European. There are a lot of assets and what we need to do is preserve the assets. But on a sporting level, we were in danger because, for the moment, the transplant has not taken place but I am convinced that the new owners will question themselves to find the right solutions, on the one hand by probably changing a certain number of organizational things, and then we arrive at a winter transfer window which will allow – it’s not me who says this, it’s John Textor – to hire the elements who were missing at the start of the season .” And Aulas concludes: “So I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but I remain hopeful.”