Rudi Garcia settles accounts with Juninho

His departure did not surprise anyone. Sunday evening, after the defeat of Olympique Lyonnais against Nice (2-3), Rudi Garcia confirmed at a press conference that he was leaving the seven-time champions of France. Free from any contract, the French technician then posted a farewell message on his social networks. And in this message, everyone saw that the now ex-Rhone coach thanked everyone except Juninho.

It must be said that OL observers had already noticed that the two men were not the best friends in the world. Two days after his departure from the capital of Gaul, Rudi Garcia confirmed this feeling by settling accounts in an interview with The team. An interview in which he underlines the dysfunctions in the way of working with the Brazilian. We learn that “Juni” would have a preference for Jean Lucas vis-à-vis Maxence Caqueret, but that’s not all.

Last winter, the sporting director would have granted the young Brazilian midfielder the right to return to Brazil without notifying his coach. Garcia also reveals that Juninho had reactions that were difficult for him to cope with. It was the Brazilian who suspended Houssem Aouar (after refusing to train after a match in Angers) and who did not want the Depay-Aouar-Cherki trio to play against Monaco. A shock won at the last minute thanks to… a goal from Cherki.

Garcia charges Juninho

So many elements that marked a relationship that gradually deteriorated. “Here, there was too much dissension in my relationship with Juni. It went well at first. Things started to go wrong without me noticing. After two or three victories in November, the sports director no longer came to congratulate me. I found that when the Brazilian rookies weren’t playing, he wasn’t happy. He would have preferred to win, but with his players. He’s invested a lot, and that’s a quality, but I certainly think he had to promise them to start. (…) At the winter break, I went to see Vincent Ponsot, and I said to him: “What’s going on? What is Juni looking for to take the job? It is not possible to continue like this. I’ll give him the keys if he wants them. “

Cold with his sports director, Rudi Garcia says he is not the only person at the club to have had differences with Juninho. And he quotes another leader whose name is also causing a lot of reaction in the Rhône: Bruno Cheyrou, the recruiting manager. “But he was already angry with everyone, with Bruno Cheyrou, in whom he perhaps saw a competitor. With Vincent Ponsot in September and it was even me who calmed things down with Juni to pick up the pieces. I told him that Bruno was at his disposal, etc. And even ask on the side of the training center… ” Atmosphere …