Saturday, 8th May 2010

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has told the club’s fans not to worry if the team miss out on Champions League football next year. Currently sitting fourth in the Ligue 1 table, Lyon must claw back a gap of two points on either Lille or Auxerre in their last two games to ensure a place at Europe’s top table for next season.

Aulas however has dismissed suggestions that failure to qualify for the Champions League will be a big blow to Lyon’s finances.

He told France Football: "It would not represent a big economic disaster because we have reserves. Non-qualification for the Champions League represents a shortfall of around €20M net, but Lyon have a small war chest of €170M."

What Aulas was certain of though was that the impact would be greater on the pitch. "It would however, be a catastrophe on a sporting level because we want to be in the Champions League for the 11th time in a row, something no-one in the major European leagues has done."

  Latest Features:

• - La Liga: Sevilla v Barcelona Match Preview
• - Premier League: Chelsea v Wigan Athletic Match Preview
• - Top 10 Premier League Transfers of 2009/10