Houllier demands guarantees from Lyon

AFP - 22 April 2007 15:02

Lyon coach Gerard Houllier gestures during the French league match against Sedan on 15 April 2007. Houllier broke off from celebrating his side´s sixth consecutive French title in a row to demand some assurances from club bosses.

PARIS (AFP) - Lyon coach Gerard Houllier broke off from celebrating his side's sixth French title in a row to demand some assurances from club bosses.

Lyon wrapped up their record sixth title in succession on Saturday despite not playing as Rennes's 3-2 win over Toulouse meant no team could now catch the runaway champions.

But despite winning two titles in his two seasons at the club, Houllier, who was speaking on RTL television station, said he had started asking himself questions in the face of a 'media bombardment' regarding his future.

"So many things have been written and said, even this week, that I have asked myself some questions, not regarding my future, because I know what I'm going to do," he said.

"However, there are a certain number of guarantees that I would like to have and have not yet had.

"One day it's with my staff, the next it's with certain players, who come to me to offer me assurances ... then it's the club bosses.

"It's been a more difficult season because we haven't achieved all our aims but you can't say it's been a bad season.

"In two years there have been 76 championship matches and the club has been top for 70 of them, given that we will remain top for the six that remain.

"That's not bad. But if it's not enough, I can understand," said Houllier ironically. "If not everyone's happy, I'll go somewhere else."

Houllier was at pains to point out he had no problem with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, although he called on the club chief to clarify his future.

"I get on very well with the president. He's a very good president. Maybe he's not given the credit he deserves because he provokes and bothers others.

"For a coach, he's a great president because he supports you. But it's normal that I have some doubts given the media bombardment that comes my way."

Aulas, for his part, told Canal Plus that discussions with Houllier on how to improve the team will start next week.

Although he paid short shrift to Houllier's worries.

"Right now Gerard is irreplaceable at Lyon," said Aulas. "When you are at a club with a budget of between 180 and 200 million euros and you're the coach of 20 international players, that's already a guarantee.