Lyon denies that they don’t have Blanc

Jean-Michel’s Classrooms left the presidency of Lyon on Monday after 36 years in office and the American businessman John Textor, who bought the club in December, took over his duties.

A certain transfer of power that, according to L’Équipe, could cause the departure of Laurent Blanc as a coach, but Textor himself has now shown his confidence in the man who has been a player for FC Barcelona, ​​​​​​Marseille, Inter and Manchester United.

“We will keep and support Laurent Blanc. The team has been doing well in the last fifteen games. We must give the coach the necessary tools” to succeed in the “new team,” he declared. Textor in his first press conference since his inauguration.

“You have to add quality and experience. The coach made (in the winter) requests (from the players) that were not met, but he got results. Coach support. Full stop,” insisted Textor.

Three points from Europe

Lyon have suffered just two defeats in their last 15 Ligue 1 games and, with four games remaining, sit in seventh place, just three points behind Lille, fifth and who will play in next season’s Conference League .

When asked about Aulas’ expected departure, which was originally scheduled for 2025, Textor denied “rumors and overstatements” referring to tensions with the club’s historic president, while specifying that he wants to take a new course. “Jean-Michel believes in what we are doing for the club,” he said.

The classrooms are still in the club

Aulas, 74, will remain on the board of directors as honorary president and should accept compensation of ten million euros for his early departure in addition to maintaining his shares (around 9% of the capital through his family holding company, Holnest).

“Jean-Michel is more present than me in the club,” concludes Textor, who manages the Eagle Football, an entity that brings together Lyon (France), Crystal Palace (England), Botafogo (Brazil) and Molenbeek (Belgian Second Division).