Geoffroy Roux de Bizeau, former president of the French Employers' Association, assumed the presidency of the organizing committee for the 2030 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in the French Alps, succeeding Edgar Grosperon, who resigned from his position due to internal disputes.
On Thursday, the organizing committee announced the unanimous selection of Di Bizio, who is 64 years old, praising his extensive experience in management and leading large teams, in a step aimed at restoring stability to the committee that has witnessed a series of crises and resignations over the past months.
Grosperon, the former Olympic freestyle skiing champion, submitted his resignation last September, after his administrative style sparked disagreements within the committee that, according to media reports, led to a decline in the confidence of a number of concerned parties in him, including the French government.
Di Bizio has extensive administrative and organizational experience, as he headed the French Employers Association between 2018 and 2023. He also participated in organizing the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, in addition to the Rugby World Cup, which France hosted in 2023.
The organizing committee for the 2030 Winter Olympics witnessed successive administrative turmoil, which began with the resignation of Director General Cyril Lynette, last February, due to what he described as “irreconcilable differences” with Grosperon, before 3 other senior executives left their positions, leading to the resignation of the former head of the committee.
France is preparing to host the Winter Olympics, for the fourth time in its history, after hosting the previous editions in Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968, and Albertville in 1992.
The new organizing committee faces challenges related to rearranging its administrative structure and enhancing coordination among the concerned parties. To ensure the progress of preparations for the session scheduled for 2030.
Michael Carrick, coach of Manchester United, confirmed that he is not surprised that he continues in his position despite the disappointing results achieved by the team, stressing that he does not need any guarantees from the club’s management regarding his future, in light of the mounting pressure calling for his dismissal.
The 45-year-old English coach is facing criticism after Manchester United failed to achieve any victory during its last eight matches, while the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth last Sunday intensified the crisis, especially since the team is now only one point away from the relegation zone in the English Premier League.
United achieved only two victories in the 12 matches it played in various competitions this season, while collecting only seven points from its first eight matches in the league, recording its worst start in 40 years.
During a press conference on Thursday, on the eve of the expected confrontation against Chelsea on Saturday, Carrick was asked if it was surprising that he continued in his position despite these results, and he replied: “No, I am here to perform my job and provide the best for the team. I have a great desire to improve things and develop performance, and it is not surprising that I continue.”
Regarding his need for public support from the club’s management, he said: “I do not need guarantees from anyone. I fully understand the nature of this position, and I realize the magnitude of the task and responsibility and what it entails.”
Carrick touched on the controversy surrounding Portuguese team captain Bruno Fernandes, who sat on the bench during the match against Bournemouth, after criticizing the coach's tactical choices following the 1-4 loss to Italian Como.
He explained that excluding Fernandez from the starting lineup was not a disciplinary measure, saying: “It was a decision related to the match, and that is all that matters.” Bruno is fully committed to this club, and I have no problem with him. "We will move forward and now focus on the weekend's match."
Despite the decline in results, it seemed that Carrick still enjoyed the support of a segment of Manchester United fans, after he received warm applause as he headed to the tunnel after the loss to Bournemouth, while the fans booed when the players left the field.
On the other hand, Gary Neville, former captain of Manchester United and Carrick's former colleague, believed that dismissing the coach may sometimes be in his personal interest, in reference to the amount of pressure he faces.
But Carrick refused to give in to these pressures, stressing his commitment to his mission, and said: “I do not pay any attention to other matters. “I know what this job is, I know what we need to do to improve, and I don’t need anyone to tell me that.”
He added: “What the fans think matters a lot to me, as well as what we offer them and what they see on the field.”
Carrick concluded by stressing that his players do not lack the desire to overcome the crisis, despite the criticism they are exposed to, saying: “The players have a great desire.” We are hurting because we did not achieve a sufficient number of victories, but there is enthusiasm, fighting spirit, and determination to provide the best.”
The upcoming Chelsea confrontation constitutes a new test for Carrick, at a time when Manchester United is seeking to stop its series of negative results and stay away from the relegation positions.
Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool's captain, believes that the team's recent strong performance at home has restored confidence to Anfield fans, after a disappointing season in defending the English Premier League title.
Liverpool achieved consecutive victories at home against Spain's Villarreal in the Champions League, Brighton in the league, and Chelsea, which they beat on penalties in the League Cup on Wednesday, in three different competitions. This gave the Reds a great morale boost before facing Arsenal, the defending champion, on Sunday at Anfield.
It seems that Liverpool players have become more attuned to the tactics of the new Spanish coach, Andoni Iraola, who took over his technical duties last June, succeeding the sacked Dutch coach, Arne Slot.
Van Dijk said: “On evenings like this (against Chelsea) or in the previous match (against Villarreal), I think the fans really enjoy what they see, and of course you can feel that energy, which is a wonderful thing.”
The 35-year-old defender added: “I have been feeling this energy for a while, and when it goes away for a while and then comes back again, it is a very good thing. “The results help a lot, and we fully understand that.”
He continued: “We want to show this level throughout the ninety minutes of every match, whether at home or away. Although achieving this is not an easy matter, we strive for it, and evenings like this help us in doing so.”
He added, "We are making a great effort behind the scenes, and we hope to reap the fruits of this work."
Iraola made 7 changes to the squad against Chelsea, including introducing four players under the age of 22.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time, before Liverpool won on penalties 6-5, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where it will face Bournemouth.
Van Dijk continued his speech, saying: “I do not think we gave the opponent many chances throughout the match, perhaps only some shots from long distances. We performed well and showed great energy.”
He concluded: “We could have performed better in some moments, but in general, I am happy with what happened this evening, and I am happy that we qualified for the next round.”
