Jean-Michel Aulas, President of Olympique Lyonnais, answered questions from Parisian in an interview published this Thursday. He again repeated his disagreement with the decision to definitively stop Ligue 1, but the Rhone chief has mainly mentioned his proposal to play in any case friendly matches with other French clubs during the month of July, while he normally stays the national cup finals and the Champions League in the month of August. Paris Saint-Germain, AS Saint-Etienne and LOSC are said to be tempted by this possibility.
Aulas These four clubs are candidates to play in July. “
“I have one last suggestion: allow us to train on June 2 for those who wish and start the friendly matches in July. If the scientific council or statistics of the pandemic on June 15 do not allow it, we will reform this decision. But it is essential that French clubs can start playing behind closed doors in early July, like their European competitors.
If the League does not want, it will be necessary to ask the question of why it does not want. At least four clubs must be allowed to play, the three who play the National Cup finals, Paris, Saint-Etienne and Lyon. I add Lille, which is interested in a role of partner. These four clubs are candidates to play in July.
Aulas You could show that you are no dumber than the others. “
There will be others, Nantes is interested. You could show that you are no dumber than the others. And above all that we are not penalized. I don’t see the government’s interest in penalizing these clubs. The pandemic is receding everywhere, perhaps even disappearing.
I don’t have the official answer yet. I have an element of answer on the side of Matignon which seems to say: that is studied. This is studied because the proposal I am making makes sense. “
Aulas has been very annoying in recent weeks, but we can admit that the idea is not insane here. Although of course everyone should be very careful. It would be a way for clubs to start preparing for the future, including the finals for AS Saint-Etienne, PSG and OL, as well as the Champions League for the latter two. It’s not as good as official matches to get the rhythm going, but it’s much better than just training.
It remains to be seen whether this will be possible. Even if the deconfinement is advancing, the time is still to be cautious. Nor should an authorization for friendly matches cause Aulas to ask again for the resumption of Ligue 1 2019-2020. We must accept to move on and use this month of July to prepare it, while wanting to replay this competition would require other efforts, both in terms of physical preparation and health care. Now wait to see what can be put in place. You can imagine that PSG, ASSE and OL would like to prepare more or less adequately.
