“I am happy to see Lyon go down, but for the moment, I have a little trouble believing it,” explains Arnaud, 25, subscribed to the North Kop.
This Tuesday, June 24, in the evening, the DNCG announced the demotion of Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 2. In Saint-Etienne, the news did not go unnoticed and this Wednesday morning, at the ASSE training center, at the Etrat, the supporters did not hide their pleasure of seeing the Lyonnais rival in such a situation, although they remain skeptical.
“I think they will be able to save themselves”
“It’s always nice to see them in a difficult situation. But they will surely call upon and I think they will be able to save themselves, ”comments Axel, 26, who came to watch the Stéphanois players training.
This is also the case of Jean-Paul, retired, who came down from Paris. According to him, the demotion of the Rhodanian club is “a sacred reversal of the situation and perhaps, a great opportunity for the Stéphanois club,” he insists.
“I don’t want to live again last season”
Indeed, if the demotion of Olympique Lyonnais, came to be confirmed, the ASSE would appear in second position of the drafted clubs, after the Stade de Reims, and could therefore dream of a competition of circumstances in its favor.
However, Stéphanois supporters are mixed with a possible rise in the Greens in Ligue 1: “It would be ugly to maintain themselves in this way”, deplores Axel. For Arnaud, “it is better to have a good season in Ligue 2, rather than going back to Ligue 1, without being really ready,” he thinks.
Jean-Guy Riou, president of the Union of Stéphanois supporters (USS) prefers to remain measured on the relegation of the Lyon rival.
“You have to stay cautious and look further than the present moment. Inevitably, I prefer to see ASSE in Ligue 1, but the club is building a team for Ligue 2, I do not want to relive last season. So obviously, I will not cry the demotion of Lyon in Ligue 2, but I especially see one more competitor on the rise in Ligue 1 next season. This Lyon descent could bring us more trouble than benefits, ”he explains.
