Despite rejecting the opportunity to compete in the Euroleague and their quarter-final playoff exit against Monaco, the Bourg club (JEU) remains ambitious. Club president Julien Desbottes explained his decision to prioritize the club’s long-term health over immediate participation in a higher-tier competition.
Desbottes expressed concerns about the economic pressures and potential burnout associated with a demanding Euroleague schedule. He stated, “We would have had to battle against an extremely violent economic climate to practically double our budget and play in the Euroleague. Why not? We have assets that could have generated liquidity, thanks to our diversification strategy. But I fear we would get lost. I fear we would forget our reason for being. JL is not a toy. It’s not my toy. My fear, had we decided to play in the Euroleague, is playing 80 games. It’s exhausting our teams at all levels of the club. I don’t want to pick them up in pieces a year from now,” he told Le Progrès.
Looking ahead, Desbottes acknowledged the evolving competitive landscape. “Next year, there will be a new redistribution of cards, as we don’t really know what will happen in Monaco and we understand that ASVEL will invest a huge amount of money. Competition will be tough. We need to be champions of France in everything we can control. The court is another matter. But if, internally, we put quality into everything we organize, we have a chance to continue to overperform. And last season, Le Mans won the Leaders Cup. Two years ago, Dijon won the French Cup… We are ready to return to Ikea to expand the trophy room (smile).”
English Translation:
Despite his refusal to play in the Euroleague and his quarter-final playoff elimination by Monaco, JEU remains ambitious: “Next year, there will be a new redistribution of cards, as we don’t really know what will happen in Monaco and we understand that ASVEL will invest a huge amount of money. Competition will be tough. We need to be champions of France in everything we can control. The court is another matter. But if, internally, we put quality into everything we organize, we have a chance to continue to overperform. And last season, Le Mans won the Leaders Cup. Two years ago, Dijon won the French Cup… We are ready to return to Ikea to expand the trophy room (smile).”
