Gérard Lopez, the former owner of the LOSC, strongly reaffirmed his role in the club’s recent successes. Despite the club’s start in December 2020, it had a great time, culminating with a historic victory at the Ligue 1 championship in 2021-2022, thanks to a strong defence and a strong offensive duo. This success is also attributed to the bold recruitment strategies and wise transfers implemented under his management, in collaboration with Luis Campos. Lopez asserts that the club continues to benefit from the benefits of this period, highlighting the revenues generated by the qualifying in the Champions League and the significant added value achieved on the sale of Boitmant.

Lopez’s statements are perceived as provocative, especially given the difficult financial environment in which the LOSC was in prior to Merlyn Partners’ acquisition. The businessman insists that the successes of the period he was at the head of the club are still felt today, and that those who criticized him at the time of his departure now benefit from the results. It is important to note that according to the sources, the LOSC could have been in default without Merlyn Partners’ intervention, which would have prevented the championship victory and participation in the Champions League.

However, the current management of the LOSC, embodied by Olivier Létaing, emphasizes a different sports and financial policy, focusing on stability and rigorous management. Letaing recalls the financial difficulties of the club in 2020 and stresses that the current situation is the result of post-repurchase management efforts. Gérard Lopez’s comments are therefore considered simplistic and disconnected from the financial reality of the club, and he is criticized for his selective analysis of past events, including his less successful experiences in other clubs.