He had not yet spoken since the sudden announcement of his departure earlier this week. Jean-Michel Aulas, now former president of Olympique Lyonnais after 36 years of service, took advantage of OL's victory in the Coupe de France on Saturday night against PSG (2-1), which he attended, to satisfy the curiosity of the media present in the mixed zone of the Stade de la Source, in Orleans. This is what we must remember from his statements compiled by AFP.

  • . On the adventure of OL's women

"It's an absolutely incredible saga. So obviously we did everything to ensure that the structures were identical to those of the boys (...) These wonderful players are accompanied by a unique staff, with as many specialists in video, physiotherapy, osteopathy, medical, technique, as in the professional teams of boys. »

  • . On her vision at the FFF for women's football

"It is our ambition to ensure that French professional football gives thousands of young girls the desire to come and play football. Because it is often the elite that creates the growth dynamic, with PSG and Olympique Lyonnais, with now four or five other clubs, which in D1 are able to beat any other club (we will try to) create a league that is for the France a bit what was at the time the English Premier League, who had made the right decisions in the boys a little before the others. »

  • . About the Women's France Team

"We will try at the federation (...) to equip itself with the most relevant means to ensure that French football as a whole is at the highest level with the D1 Arkema but also with the France team. Hervé Renard was there tonight, it's great to have the coach with all his assistants who looks at the girls, who scrutinizes, who lives at the same pace as the clubs, it's important because we do not have a very high level France team without the very high level clubs being accompanied. »

  • . On his departure from the club

"I'm going to retire, if it had been up to me I wouldn't have done it so quickly, but you have to accept the rule. I am a happy man, since I am retiring on a title, and there will still be one match next Sunday for the championship (OL travel to PSG with three points ahead two days from the end of D1). I will retire with a heavy heart, because these are friendships, very strong relationships that have been created, but also by being peaceful, serene, having done the work, doing what I wanted to do, without ever giving in to pressure. And when you feel that you no longer have this role to play, you have to know how to do it with elegance, that's what I try to do. But when you give 36 years of your life to football, it's not easy to leave what you love most, with your family. »

  • . On the arrival of the new bosses

"While never having yielded on principles, it was necessary to make sure to show that those who arrive have passion, also a vision, it was necessary to welcome them and put them in the best conditions for the future, I hope that everyone will have noticed that it was part of the man (that he is) to give everything when he is at the helm, And then to give everything so that those who come behind can achieve the best performances, because it will be my adrenaline of tomorrow. »

  • Football
  • Jean-Michel Aulas
  • Olympique Lyonnais (OL)
  • Sport