“We were powerless,” Moussa Niakhaté reflects on OL’s summer crisis | OneFootball

The Gones defender speaks out for the first time about the turmoil the club went through.

“We were powerless,” Moussa Niakhaté reflects on OL’s summer crisis

Moussa Niakhaté spoke out for the first time about the tumultuous period Olympique Lyonnais experienced this summer. On Saturday, July 19, 2025, the Senegalese defender shared with BeIN Sports the players’ anxieties in the face of the looming threat of administrative relegation to Ligue 2.

Olympique Lyonnais endured a perilous summer, grappling with a disastrous financial situation inherited from John Textor’s tenure. The DNCG had initially ruled for the club’s administrative relegation to Ligue 2, putting the very future of the Rhône institution at risk. The seven-time French champions were teetering on the brink. After presenting a rescue plan, OL, now led by Michele Kang, finally won their case before the DNCG appeals committee on July 9. The governing body overturned the administrative relegation but imposed strict controls on the club’s wage bill and transfer spending. This decision allowed OL to retain their place in Ligue 1 and their qualification for the Europa League.

Moussa Niakhaté spoke candidly about the mood within the squad during this crisis and admitted just how much the uncertainty weighed on the team’s morale throughout the summer break.

“It’s true that during the holidays, we were waiting for a lot of things and it wasn’t easy because we didn’t know what was true or false. Of course, it’s complicated because we’re still employees of this club. I think we all signed here with clear goals, to restore OL to the heights we all remember from the 2000s. It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure. We’re happy because, in the end, it turned out well. That chapter is behind us, and the group was confident enough because it was hard to imagine this club disappearing. Now, we’re focused on the upcoming season, aiming to do better than last year. There’s a really good vibe in the squad, so we need to back it up with a strong season. How did we handle the summer internally? We were powerless, so it didn’t really affect morale. We were just worried, because being part of a story that could see the club disappear isn’t easy, even if we’re not responsible. Today, spirits are high,” Niakhaté said.