Olympique Lyonnais - Dijon FCO 

In a wide-ranging interview with L'Equipe published on Thursday, Aulas elaborated on the press conference held alongside Genesio on Tuesday evening in the wake of OL's 3-2 home reverse to Rennes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. After the Rennes game Aulas revealed that reaching the Coupe de France and finishing in the top three of Ligue 1 Conforama would have been enough to earn Genesio a new two-year contract.

Out of contract in June, the 52-year-old Genesio is now far from certain to be offered a new deal or to want to sign one should it be placed on the table. Asked if Genesio might stay should OL finish the league season like a cannonball, Aulas said: "It would be difficult but it is possible. I don't know if Bruno would want to stay. I think wen he woke up the morning after the Coupe de France loss he must have had a headache. I spoke to him for a long time after the game and twice on Wednesday."

Club president since 1987, Aulas commented: "He (Genesio) was very dignified and he came to the press conference with me even if things didn't go as planned. He wasn't responsible for Tuesday's defeat. He has a share of responsibility, like me, and the players. The players are more responsible than Bruno or myself. I heard a superb team talk but I don't think the players were at 100%. Bruno told me: 'In any case I'll make it a badge of honour to finish second in the league'."

Beat bottom club Dijon on Saturday afternoon and OL will go one point behind second-placed LOSC, who are in action at Reims on Sunday. At Groupama Stadium, however, fans will be talking about Genesio and his potential successors.

Aulas: "The special one is not compatible with the club's economy"

When the available Mourinho mentioned earlier this year that working in the French game was a possibility, OL were immediately touted as a possible destination for the Portuguese. Aulas moved to quash that speculation by telling L'Equipe: "I saw Mourinho in Moscow last summer and we spoke a bit, but not to talk about coming to Lyon, we spoke about recruitment. The special one is not compatible with the club's economy."

Aulas was more forthcoming when asked about Laurent Blanc, out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2016: "I don't know what the ideal profile. He has a good profile," said Aulas, who recently turned 70. "We're lucky at Lyon as you just have to look at the number of coaches who want to come and coach here, both French and foreign coaches."

At the foot of the table for the first time this season after a 1-0 home loss to Nice last time out, Dijon have won only two of their last 27 league matches. Following the defeat to Les Aiglons, coach Antoine Kombouaré was on the receiving end of the ire of Dijon followers. The former Guingamp coach admitted: "I understand that they're disappointed and angry and of course it affected me. I didn't like it but I'm armour-plated. The question is not to know how I'm doing. My only problem is ensuring DFCO stay in Ligue 1. I like the supporters."

Probable Teams:

Olympique Lyonnais: (to follow)

Dijon: (to follow)