Lyon (AFP)

"The hardest part is behind us in terms of health": after several cases of Covid in the workforce, the deputy president of Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne, Gaëtan Müller, ensures that the team is ready to chain two Euroleague matches important against Red Star Belgrade and Zenit Saint-Petersburg, Wednesday and Friday at Astroballe.

Q: How do you explain Asvel's difficult start in the Euroleague and in the French league?

A: "It was complicated at all levels. You have to put yourself in order of battle sportingly. Having 100% of the players (except Fall, editor's note) impacted by the Covid is not the ideal way to start a season. were also very highly anticipated and we did not have singles matches. We played in Valencia and Milan, with five trips out of six games to start. "

Q: Are you still optimistic for the future?

A: "It was urgent to win but there was no danger either. We came back positive in the league and we obtained a precious victory in Victoria which erases our underperformance against Kaunas. The hardest part is behind us in terms of health and we are looking to the future, with two very important matches on Wednesday and Friday. We have a large enough workforce to continue. We are ready. "

Q: Does a hierarchy have to be established within the workforce to find the right chemistry?

A: "We are a team, it always takes a little time to get in line of battle and only the field can do that. It is the performances that make a hierarchy naturally organize itself. , like Moustapha Fall who becomes a pillar over the matches. Players are used to playing a lot and there, they must find their place. I am not worried but we have to be serious because the schedule does not await us . You have to be there at the right time. "

Q: Should we favor the Euroleague or the championship, when we do not know if there will be play-offs?

A: "Whatever happens, it's important to be as high as possible in the standings. It's a very special season because you don't know how it will unfold until the end. You have to deal with everything. Euroleague, we are keeping our ambitions with the humility that should be ours, but each place grabbed will be important to have our standing invitation. In any case, Asvel must be present in all competitions. "

Q: How do you see the next few weeks at Asvel, especially economically?

A: "For the moment, all the clubs are suffering. In the Euroleague, 500,000 euros are paid to us for TV rights. So, even with the closed camera imposed, we are interested. Work is being done by the League, its president Alain Béral ​​and his colleagues from other sports to discuss with the government.We are part of this work with Tony Parker and Asvel and we have good hope that the discussions will succeed and allow basketball and French team sports to raise their heads. the economic model is untenable. November is a month of observation with the hope of finding solutions that allow us to ensure a certain balance, if not making money. We want to lose as little as possible. "

Interview by François-Jean TIXIER

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