Marseille president: we have not yet reached our goal and work is still ongoing

Stefan Richard, the president of Olympique Marseille, confirmed that the club is still working on addressing its financial situation, pointing out that reducing the wage bill has been one of the management's main objectives during the summer transfer window.

Richard stated: "We have achieved a lot this summer, and overall the squad size has decreased, allowing us to significantly reduce the wage bill, which is unprecedented in the club's history. There are still discussions with some players regarding wage reductions."

The president of Olympique Marseille added that the club is striving to reach a better financial position by the end of the year before presenting its file to the National Management Control Department (DNCG), which is responsible for financial oversight of French clubs, stating: "The course has completely changed compared to the past two seasons, but we have not yet reached our goal. Everything we can do now will help us in our position before the DNCG."

Richard explained that the economic decisions have not been easy, especially with the departure of several players. However, he emphasized the need to find a balance between the financial requirements and the sporting ambitions of the team, confirming that the management does not part with players out of a desire to sell them, but rather due to the economic circumstances the club is experiencing.

In sports news, Richard revealed that Olympique Marseille aims to compete for qualification to a European competition, but he declined to make early promises regarding a return to the UEFA Champions League given the current economic circumstances. He also confirmed that owner Frank McCourt remains strongly involved in decisions related to the club.