After a turbulent summer fraught with financial uncertainties and the looming threat of relegation, Olympique Lyonnais is finally approaching the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season with a sense of collective relief.
Speaking after Lyon’s 1-0 victory over Villefranche, Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté opened up about the challenging period the club endured, stressing the resilience and unity that helped the team overcome adversity.
Lyon’s summer was one of the most difficult in recent memory. The club faced an imminent administrative relegation to Ligue 2 after the French football financial watchdog, the DNCG, flagged the club’s financial struggles stemming from owner John Textor’s financial mismanagement.
This development left the team in limbo, as they awaited clarity on their future. However, following a vital cash injection and the departure of their former manager, Lyon was able to avoid the drop and retain their place in Ligue 1.
The fallout from these events significantly slowed the transfer market activity for the club, leaving players uncertain about their roles and futures. For Niakhaté and his teammates, this created an atmosphere of anxiety and speculation that loomed over their summer.
Reflecting on the situation, Niakhaté admitted that the uncertainty took a toll on the players. “It’s true that during the holidays, we expected a lot of things to happen, and it wasn’t easy because we didn’t know what was true or false,” he told beIN Sports. “Obviously, it’s complicated because we are still employees of this club, and not knowing the future of the club is never easy.”
Despite the stress and the financial concerns that plagued Lyon over the summer, Niakhaté emphasized that the team’s morale and unity remained intact. “It was difficult, but we stayed united. We were all in it together. We had a hard time imagining this club disappearing,” he added.
The 26-year-old was quick to point out that despite the anxiety, the squad’s collective spirit remained strong, which ultimately played a key role in pushing them through the tough period.
Now that the immediate threat has passed, the players have turned their focus to the upcoming season, eager to move beyond the uncertainties and build a more stable future for both the club and themselves.
Niakhaté revealed that the atmosphere in the dressing room has been notably positive, with players eager to prove themselves and reassert Olympique Lyonnais’ status as a competitive force in French football.
“Now we’re focused on the upcoming season. We’re determined to have a better season than last year. The group is in a very good atmosphere, and it’s important for us to confirm that with a strong season,” Niakhaté said. His optimism reflects the general mood within the squad, which seems determined to put the summer’s turbulence behind them and regain their confidence.
Despite the positivity, Niakhaté acknowledged that the players’ worries about the club’s future had taken an emotional toll. “We were powerless during the entire process. It didn’t affect our morale directly, but we were worried.
Being part of this story, where the club’s very existence was questioned, is not easy, even if we weren’t responsible for the situation,” he said. The emotional weight of the summer, he explained, was a reminder of how deeply the fate of the club affects everyone involved, from the players to the supporters.
Looking forward, Lyon will be keen to regain stability both on and off the pitch. The financial cloud that hung over the club has now cleared, but the true test will be whether the players can carry this newfound stability into their performances on the field. The club’s primary goal for the season will be to reconnect with European ambitions, as Lyon seeks to restore its place among the continent’s elite.
For Niakhaté and his teammates, the challenges of the summer have strengthened their resolve. With a positive outlook and the right mentality, the players are determined to put the difficult chapter behind them and focus on achieving success in the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season.
