Ivan Gazidis spoke at length yesterday, on the sidelines of ASSE-OM, at the microphone of beIN Sports. He has carried out an initial assessment of his first 6 months at the club and attests that he has already understood certain elements of the context. Gazidis also spoke about the upcoming transfer window and… the criticisms surrounding his absences from St-Etienne…
“We have made a lot of investments and we will continue on this path. We want Saint-Étienne to regain its place among the best clubs in French football. This will not happen in six months. The first months have allowed us to understand context, learn and listen Now we enter the action phase.
We now know what the club needs in all areas. It is not a matter of one person, but of a collective effort. You will see that we will be more proactive in the future.
We need to feel a sense of urgency. The priority is to stay in Ligue 1 this season, but we must also build solid foundations to be successful in two, three, even five years. Making bad decisions in a hurry can be costly in the long run. A lot of clubs fall into this trap.”
No mistake in the summer transfer window for the president of the Greens!
“The transfer window? We have a new coach who must evaluate the team. Horneland is very focused on the players in place and their development. He believes in their potential and their ability to improve with a better playing system and reinforced automatisms This is particularly important for players new to Ligue 1. Of course, we are open to the idea of improving the team After the emergencies of the summer, we understand our needs better today. today we will continue to. invest wisely to move forward.
Mistakes during the summer transfer window? No, I believe in the value of our players. Their quality has not yet been fully expressed. I think there has been criticism about the lack of experience and the youth of the team, but it is not justified. Several teams have younger and less experienced squads than us. Our players have good qualities. We simply have to offer them a gaming system that allows them to fully express themselves.”
Too far from St-Etienne? Gazidis responds!
“My presence in Saint-Étienne? We have a team that works here, and I come regularly. I will be present in January, so you will see me often. My role as president is also to ensure that the right people are in place. We have important figures like Jean-François Soucasse or Jason Rosenfeld We are in constant contact Today, football is a globalized and modern world, and the role of a club owner has evolved.
The Saint-Etienne public? It's always an incredible emotion to be here. These fans and this club are special. Their commitment is a source of inspiration and pressure. We must give them results, because they deserve it. They are incredible, and I am very proud to be part of this adventure.”
