Gérard López is considered in the middle of the season
Did you expect the team in this second place on January 15?
Truth is malleable when it comes to football. We had a very special summer. At that time, we knew that our young people, who had been followed since January, were good, but not to this point, we had not yet confirmed our experienced personnel. It would be presumptuous to say we would be first or second halfway through the season. Our first games surprised many, and with experienced players everything stabilized. Our group is very homogeneous and has achieved good results. This gave us confidence that we were playing on the climb.
You prefer to see the glass half full…
Did you expect the team in this second place on January 15?
Truth is malleable when it comes to football. We had a very special summer. At that time, we knew that our young people, who had been followed since January, were good, but not to this point, we had not yet confirmed our experienced personnel. It would be presumptuous to say we would be first or second halfway through the season. Our first games surprised many, and with experienced players everything stabilized. Our group is very homogeneous and has achieved good results. This gave us confidence that we were playing on the climb.
You prefer to see the glass as half full, saying last summer it was almost unexpected or half empty, conceding a few points for free in the games against Caen (2-2) and Amiens (1-1). ?
It wasn’t unexpected after our third or fourth game. We are satisfied with the results, the proposed game, because we are playing good football. We have strong individuals, a strong group. That’s why there’s anger because we want more. Admar (Lopes, sporting director, editor’s note) for me, it’s getting harder and harder to accept the stupid loss of points by the staff and the players.
What should be done better in the return phase?
First of all, I would like to mention the work of the coach and the staff regarding the personal development of the players. The material was good, but the evolution is quite impressive. This applies to youngsters like Mwanga, Bakwa or Bokele, youngsters like Gregersen who would take their place in three-quarters of the Ligue 1 teams at the club today. is in trouble. But the contribution of applicants in the last matches is not always positive. The players on the field are distracted. Substitutes need to bring something, keep the home team focused, and the team needs to work on key points in matches with changes. We cannot lose the thread of the match. There is work, there is quality, it is a shame to throw everything out the window like this.
According to France Bleu, after the match against Amiens, you would have a huge grudge against the staff in the dressing room, on the phone.
It is wider than that. I was so nervous and I shouldn’t have gone out. It happened to me this season, as did Bastia, where we scored a free kick in 93e minutes (1-1). I’ve already been on hiatus in some games. On Friday (January 20), I attacked everyone, the staff and the players. This is my role as president. I love football and the club too much to lose two points. But on Friday, the coach was also upset. We get frustrated because we want to succeed. I had a long talk with the coach and Admar yesterday (Saturday, January 21). All three of us were “unsatisfied”. We talked about what we should do to prevent such situations. I am extremely proud of the work that has been done when I go some distance.
But was right after the match the right time? Doesn’t this weaken the coach in the eyes of the group?
It wasn’t with the players involved. You don’t need to look for a small animal. I’m not saying it’s David Guio’s fault. Moreover, neither he nor Admar nor I were on the ground. When you miss a clearance and a 16-year-old is all alone to put the ball into the top corner, you can’t help but be upset. If I don’t, I don’t care and I can’t be president of a football club. This pressure that I put on the band, the staff and myself needs to be hot and then cold. The analysis is very simple: we cannot afford such errors of concentration.
So your faith in David Guion is still complete and total?
Absolutely. And after this season! They commented on what some supporters said and sent it to me. If you only knew how many times we can get angry in solitude… Talking about continuity with David Guion is so stupid. He and his staff made us second today. The job was so well done that the disappointment is great because we know we can do better.
What is your financial capacity for maneuver for this winter transfer window?
We no longer have restrictions from DNCG, but we are limiting ourselves so that we don’t fall for anything. We have to take risks because we are playing for the climb, which will put the club back in an even stronger financial position, in terms of profitability. Therefore, we will accept a player as reinforcement without waiting for the departure. We have the envelope to do that.
So you won’t necessarily wait to sell to buy?
Not necessarily. We are talking about group management rather than finance. We have a route planned, which should bring the Girondins back to Ligue 1 and we don’t want to get out of there. We’ve given ourselves two years to go up, and even if Havre are in the lead, we have to take the opportunity now (nine points, editor’s note). All players in this group can play. I don’t want to disrupt the dynamics of the dressing room, the coach, too. I think we will look for a Zuriko (Davitashvili) type player even before leaving. A young man who can come from another league, not only in football profile. An attacking player with excellent technical quality who can ideally play on the flanks or support the number 9. If a player like Elis leaves, someone more experienced and ready will be needed.
Do you think strengthening the team is important to increase the chances of promotion?
I estimate the number of points we should not lose at seven. If we had them, we wouldn’t be far from this group. So, if we are going to look for one or more players, we definitely need to bring more. But the current group is already playing at climbing.
Is the club on track in terms of cash flow and repayment of debts to Fortress and King Street?
The nails are absolutely fine. We are even ahead. Last month we reduced our debt by almost three million euros, without outside contributions, without sales, just through the club. So that leaves about ten million euros (plus a little under two million euros extra in the event of promotion to Ligue 1, editor’s note). They must be paid in part by paying seven million euros as part of the transfer of Emiliano Sala. We don’t know when the club will touch them, it will be soon (Nantes bought part of Cardiff’s 17 million debt, editor’s note).
Where are you looking for financial partners?
I don’t know how many people contacted us because we had so many expressions of interest. But we have to find something solid, serious, that is suitable for the project we want to carry out, that can bring its stone to the building to strengthen us. The club is in a financial situation it has not known for five or six years. It gives you the luxury of seeing it coming. It does not depend on promotion in Ligue 1, nor is it something that must happen. The people we are talking about have real abilities. It would be possible to partner at the equity level, but we are open. And we can stay that way because we’ve created so much value, we can turn down double-digit bids for our players unlike last summer and we’re no longer forced to sell.
What about the main jersey sponsor?
