Puel, new stadium … Aulas speaks, Puel answers.

Jean-Michel Aulas speaks to the press (often), sells his club (always), can speak without compromise (sometimes), and on occasions be perfectly candid (rarely). It just happened now in a Lyon Capitale interview published today, and, as it addresses the concerns of many readers of this blog, I thought I should share the key points with you. So, there you go, folks.

About Claude Puel, and an interview in which he thinks his contract won’t be extended (1)

“Yes, he is right to say that. Today we have a number of checkpoints that are problematic, whether it is with the press or a part of the public. I was criticized enough to have had him sign a contract for four years, too long for the big clubs. In the present circumstances, he is right to say that.”

“A coach, when he has got results, it is much more free than when he has not (smile). And if he has not, he becomes like any coach or business leader, completely dependent on the market and those who decide on the contract. In his case, the market, that’s the sports results. And the policy makers are the Board that I represent. That said, I do not put pressure daily on the coach, on who must play, on the tactics to adopt; it is a form of delegation. Doing so doesn’t exclude control, nor sanctions, quite the opposite. When one is in a environment of freedom, one also claims responsibility for the outcome. And it suits me well this way. ”

About the possibility of OL without a title ?

“It’s the kind of questions that I do not even ask myself. There are so many things that come into play … Today, he (Claude Puel) is under contract, and it is always preferable for a great club to respect contracts, rather than having changes in the contract, which are difficult to manage, and leave scars. That said, anything is possible. Not winning the title would be embarrassing … but winning without being consistent with the values of the club, the values that are dear to my heart, that also is problematic. Remember the year we achieved the double (Ligue 1 + Coupe de France): we did not keep the coach (2). ”

About the new stadium and its political opposition

“I want to tell them : think about the general interest, and not your own interest. This success must be a collective one. You see it, this issue has become political, because it is a good theme. Any normal person can not say that the “Stade des Lumières” (3) is a project that is badly put together. Or that it will not be in the public interest. One has to be be amnesiac, blind or in bad faith to claim otherwise. This project of a large new stadium, is not a political one, but one of general interest that, economically, socially and in terms of image is essential for Lyon, the Rhone department, the Grand Lyon area and for France. Every policymaker has a duty to join the project, even if at some point he must swallow a snake. That is the true political sense that we must give to our action every day. ”

About OL, shareholder of the LOU (Lyon Olympique Universitaire) Rugby Club?

“I was tempted, in the past; today I will likely do so, to salute the constant investment of people (..) who, against all odds, have managed to maintain the direction. So, yes, I will help the LOU, as it is also a topic of general interest: it is that Lyon has a rugby team playing in Top 14 (4). We invested in the Gerland stadium, although we’re set to go away in the coming years. Nobody knows it, but we continue to invest in amenities: big screens, boxes, new lawn heated by the ground through a system of photosynthesis. If the LOU rises to the Top14 (5) , it may allow them to play at Gerland, through this investment by OL. ”

Interesting, Mr Aulas. Good to let the steam (and the PC-ness) go off before the weekend. You never now, depending on the Lille game there might be a sudden burst of pressure again…

UPDATE – LAST MINUTE :
Puel just gave a press conference in which he was asked to comment on Aulas’ interview published earlier today, and this is what he had to say :
“I agree with the president, to the extent that actually, at the end of the season, I might eventually decide to stop and go elsewhere. I will not comment further on the subject”.
Regarding the possible impact of such news on players: “The most important is what we are going through. We’ve got magnificent games coming, beginning on Sunday with Lille. The key is to stay well focused on that. There are great challenges ahead. My priority is the pitch and my players. ”

(1) Soon to be posted here
(2) Alain Perrin, dismissed June 17, 2008
(3) Stadium of the Lights
(4) The Ligue 1 of French Rugby
(5) They’re currently top of League 2, so have every chance to be promoted

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Category: Team News and Rumors