How much should the Lyonnais fear a second consecutive season without the Champions League?


By losing last Sunday against Losc (2-3), the Lyonnais see a qualification in the Champions League clearly compromised. – Mourad ALLILI / SIPA

  • Despite weeks in a single match, unlike PSG and Losc, and after an honorary title of autumn champion, OL are on the verge of completing a second consecutive season without qualification in the Champions League.
  • Currently 4th in Ligue 1 four points behind AS Monaco (3rd), the Lyonnais will play Sunday (9 pm) “a game to quit or double” in the Principality, as recognized Tuesday Jean-Michel Aulas.
  • Finally, would the consequences of qualifying “only” in the Europa League be so serious for OL?

“A double or half game. Jean-Michel Aulas did not try to minimize this week the stake of the Lyon trip from Sunday (9 pm) to Monaco. Now dropped four points from ASM (3rd), four days from the end of the championship, OL will absolutely have to win in the Principality to hope to return to the podium by May 23. In the wake of an incredible C1 semi-final in August 2020 during the Lisbon Final 8, this was clearly not the programmed objective for this group, especially after its status as autumn champion in Ligue 1. The last “failure” (dixit JMA) of the band in Memphis Depay against Losc (2-0 to 2-3) still pushes the Lyon club to freak out for good a second consecutive season without the Champions League. What would be the consequences of this configuration, unprecedented since the period 2012-2015 with Rémi Garde?

A huge economic impact

The sinews of war, more than ever with the consequences of Covid-19, is obviously the economic impact that this fourth place in Ligue 1 would have on OL. In February, OL Groupe announced losses of 50.6 million euros over the last six months of 2020, i.e. more than for the whole of the previous fiscal year, which ended at the end of June 2020 (36.5 million euros). euros). “OL Groupe hoped that the losses would be offset by a qualification in the Champions League, by the return of the public in the second part of the season, and by sales of players to the tune of 60 million euros, explains the economist of the sport Pierre Rondeau. Two of these three conditions will therefore probably not be met in an attempt to rebalance the accounts. “

Because as summarized Pierre Rondeau, a presence in C1 would guarantee “around 60 million euros” to OL, between the fixed participation bonus, that relating to its UEFA history and the share of television rights. And this without mentioning ticketing revenues that can reach four million euros for a poster at the Parc OL, and 2.7 million euros for each success in the competition. All of these numbers are at least divided by five when we switch to the Europa League as OL are about to do. “Lyon will not find itself in financial danger, but the club will have to slow down its lifestyle and make concessions,” predicts Pierre Rondeau.

Attractiveness in question on the transfer window

Does the identity of Rudi Garcia’s successor (at the end of his contract in June) depend on the Lyonnais’ final sprint in Ligue 1? “Coaches who are really popular are in principle attracted by the Champions League,” said players’ agent Frédéric Guerra, who lives in Lyon. And a good coach then has the power to influence a number of recruitments. “In the event of fourth place, Jean-Michel Aulas, Vincent Ponsot and Juninho will they therefore be condemned to bet on a second choice on the sidelines?

Since Gérard Houllier (from 2005 to 2007), Lyon supporters have hoped in vain for the arrival of a great coach recognized in Europe. As for the players, it will be uncomplicated C1 to attract an element of the caliber of Memphis Depay, who will leave the club without reporting any transfer compensation in two months. “Before recruiting, and perhaps in a more French market to create more unity in this group, OL’s priority should be to sell the players who show wear and tear in this club, believes Frédéric Guerra. Because if there is still no Champions League next season, I consider that it is the sign of an end of cycle in Lyon. “

In April 2014, Corentin Tolisso (and his improbable number 55) and Jordan Ferri challenged Carlos Tevez’s Juve in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. – Massimo Pinca / AP / SIPA

Not so alarmist supporters

The last “lean period” to date in Lyon, in full financing of the Parc OL, had not been so badly experienced by the Lyon supporters. Because it was then that they had been able to identify for several seasons with the many young players leaving the academy, such as Alexandre Lacazette, Samuel Umtiti, Corentin Tolisso, Anthony Lopes, Jordan Ferri or Nabil Fekir. Supporter of OL, Vincent (29) thus keeps good memories of this time, illustrated by a quarter-final of the Europa League in 2014 against Juventus.

“This prospect of the Europa League makes you want to come back to a project with meaning, with more young people. When we see this last match against Lille, it is the summary of the absence of continuity of this OL, with an average coach instigating fear in his team in the second period. We need a new story. “

And even Jean-Michel Aulas was partly projected on this outcome on Tuesday, showing himself to be a philosopher: “The Europa League can also be an ambition, if unfortunately we remained at this level of the competition. Because no French club has yet won it ”. Lyon supporters would sign with their eyes closed for such a first, in “lean period”.





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