How did you react to Xavier Thuilot’s departure?
“Compared to Xavier, I can say that he is a very competent, very honest, and very hard-working person. There is a decision that has been taken, I don’t want to comment on it because I want to send something positive into our action and keep moving forward. I wish Xavier the best for the future because he deserves it. In any case, he worked, was very operational and contributed a lot to ASSE. “
We knew that his presence was a condition of your coming. Could the fact that he was fired have any short or medium term consequences on your future at the club?
“Question my investment? “
No, that the conditions are no longer met to carry out your project?
“Those who know me know that when I’m in something, I do everything to make it move forward and I don’t go back. There is something very important to achieve in this club. I consider myself on a mission. From the outside, I had a certain perception of the club’s situation, but not at this point financially and even sportingly. And once we’re there, we move forward, we roll up our sleeves. This is what drives me even if it happens in the face of adversity. The situation was already out of the ordinary before the pandemic compared to a previous sports policy which had strongly impacted the finances of ASSE and it is still amplified today by what all clubs have to face. We are in the same boat as our competitors: no more TV rights or ticket revenues. It’s very, very tough. That’s why I want to stay the course, fix myself there, especially in adversity, and not deviate. This is how we will get out of it. “
“In relation to all the speculations around my case, I have passed the age”
Does the Thuilot episode affect your relationship with your presidents?
“There is a decision that has been made and I want to be pragmatic about it. In this kind of situation, I like to behave like a professional. We worked well with Xavier, we welcome Jean-François Soucasse and I wish us a very good collaboration for the good of the club. I want to keep moving forward. “
Do you feel supported by your leaders in relation to the project?
” Of course. The speculations around my case? I have passed the age. It is the club that is weakened for all the reasons listed, not me. I do not define a project and apply it as it seems to me. The club is financially impacted by the pandemic, by this broadcaster story and cannot be an actor in the transfer window. ASSE must be moved forward in the short term and prepared for the medium term future. With the leaders, we try to manage the present as best as possible without compromising the future. There is no other project unfortunately or fortunately because we are going back to the sources of ASSE, relying more strongly on his training and on the level of playing principles even if it is difficult. “
“What is important for the players is to know my situation”
Can the group be weakened by what is happening around?
“What’s important for the players is to know my situation. They had no daily relationship with Xavier who was in the cogs of the club. He had of course a leading role. Some players came because I had signed for ASSE and maybe some are wondering. The important thing is to give guarantees regarding my investment and the way I see things. There is no reason to think that there is anything in particular. “
Have you been warned and consulted for the arrival of Jean-François Soucasse?
“I do not want to comment on the departure of Xavier and the arrival of Jean-François. Of course, I had a discussion with Jean-François Soucasse to explain to him where we were, the project, to update him on the situation of the club in all its components, in particular on the financial aspect. He is able to take over and work well. “
