Rudi Garcia is a man of his word. Before confinement, he had validated the principle of an interview. Between two preparation matches in Belgium, he held this commitment a fortnight ago. For more than 30 minutes, in videoconference, the technician from Lyon exchanged, debated and answered all questions transparently. Professional, he agreed, just 48 hours after the loss of the Coupe de la Ligue to PSG (0-0, 6 tab to 5), to contextualize the interview.
Does the failure of the Coupe de la Ligue final change anything in the approach of this round of 16 return to Turin?
RUDI GARCIA. No, it's the opposite. It just shows that we are capable of holding one of the best teams in Europe in check for 120 minutes.
Except to win the Champions League, Lyon should live, for the first time since 1997, a year without the European Cup. Would you take it as a personal failure?
We will talk about it again when we are eliminated from the competition, as late as possible, if not eliminated at all ...
Is the absence of the Turin public an advantage?
We hope so. Usually, the atmosphere at Juventus Stadium is hot. Tifosi are good at putting pressure on opponents and referees. This will not be the case this time. It's up to us to take advantage of these special conditions.
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Is it penalizing, on the other hand, to have only one official match behind you to challenge a club that has been able to resume and finish its championship?
Juventus, with 14 games on the clock, will obviously be more in the rhythm of the competition. It won't be an excuse. We absolutely want to qualify. It will be very difficult. We have already achieved the feat of beating them on the first leg. You don't have to win. We have the right to dream.
Your opponent appeared less domineering in July. Does that reassure you?
Juventus have been criticized a lot lately, but they won their 9th consecutive title. That is enough to locate it. It is based on a very high level collective further enhanced by the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world.
Memphis Depay could not have played this game last March. What does his return change?
It is a fuoriclasse as the Italians say. It will not be 100% because we do not return to its best level like that after this kind of injury ( Editor's note: rupture of a cruciate ligament in the left knee in December 2019 ). But if there is, for us, a positive aspect to the postponement of this round of 16 return to August, it is to have been able to recover such a player. I don't forget, either, Jeff Reine-Adélaïde.
Will you welcome qualifying as revenge on those who stigmatize your alleged inability to dominate superior teams?
I don't work that way. It is not possible to achieve the double with Lille in 2011, to finish two years in a row 2nd in Serie A by starting my first season with ten victories, a European record then, or to reach the final in 2018. of the Europa League without having any qualities. We can make the stats say whatever we want. I also use it when it goes my way. On arrival, what counts are the results. I don't pay attention to these comments. I just try to remember the wonderful moments lived in my successive clubs, the collective emotions shared with my group.
You find Italy again. What did this passage in Serie A bring you?
With AS Roma, I discovered another football, a tactical science. This championship is not defensive, contrary to popular belief. Coaching is more respected in Italy. Already in the term, Il Mister . There is a stronger recognition, a patriotic fiber that allows them to be in the best clubs.
This is not the case in France?
With us, coaches are not specially considered or supported. It should therefore come as no surprise that there are not many in the 4 major championships ( Editor's note: Zidane is the only one ). There is a reflection to be carried out on this subject, this is moreover what Unecatef, the coaches union, is doing. French technicians are recognized more through training than through the management of professional teams. However, we are as good or even better than the others.
In Lyon, did you expect to arouse, upon your arrival and even today, so much mistrust among the supporters?
Football unleashes passions. I was well aware of the antagonism that could exist between OL and OM. But in all seriousness, I had not imagined such a scenario. My arrival in Lyon displeased the supporters of both clubs. What am I blamed for? Coming from Marseille… Okay, I was able to offend some and I'm sorry, but I was defending my colors. I did it everywhere I went with respect for the opponents. I continue today.
On a daily basis, is it heavy?
Society is like that, not just football. We see it every day with politicians, bosses of big companies… I'm not going to play the old fighter, but the current media world is very particular. We have to adapt to the new generations, who have only one hand because the other is taken by their phone. There are a lot of abuses with social networks. Things can hurt the family. Me, I have thick leather. I donate my blood and my sweat, I work body and soul, with the players, the staff and the leaders, to have results. This is the only way everyone will be happy.
Do you want to register for the long term in Lyon?
I hope so. In life, as in my work, I am someone of the present. I use what I have lived in the past, because it is experience to improve myself, in the service of my club. I am no longer old enough to have career plans. And anyway, I've never had ... I tell myself that if we get along well and we manage to satisfy our common ambitions, there is no reason why we cannot continue together.
Isn't this a utopian vision of your profession?
I am well aware that in this profession, we always have the suitcase ready. Sometimes we want to stay, but we don't want us anymore. We are in a Kleenex society. Sorry for the ad. But we take you or we throw you.
What do you think of Jean-Michel Aulas, who didn't spare you much before signing for OL?
He has built something great. By joining OL, I knew where I was going. It is obviously one of the best clubs in the country. A strong institution. It is better to have the president with than against you. I am stunned by his energy. He is a brilliant person. From the outside, you might think it's ubiquitous, but not at all. He has the intelligence not to be intrusive. He is a very good communicator. Unlike me, he was able to take the turn of social networks.
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His many tweets don't bother you too much?
On the contrary. It is a real comfort for the coach. Before, I had to go with my sword, my shield. He defends his colors, but also the interest of French football.
Did you understand his determination to campaign for a resumption of L1?
He was one of the few who was right to say that we should have waited and seen what happens. The proof is what we did in Italy, Spain, England and Germany. Everyone resumed except us. The decision to stop everything was too hasty. The most incredible thing is that all the countries continued their season behind closed doors, whereas we decided to interrupt it and then restart it with 5,000 spectators in the final of the two national cups. Can you tell me why? It lacked common sense.
Have the last few months changed your perception of your job?
I could see how much I missed football. When you are deprived of your passion, it is difficult to live. But I preferred to be positive, refocus on very simple values such as family and enjoy moments of conviviality. These little pleasures do a lot of good and also make it possible to put many things into perspective. This unprecedented and unique period of confinement also highlighted new everyday heroes: caregivers, cashiers or bus drivers. All these people placed on the front line, little accountable for their time and entirely devoted to others.
Many L1 clubs have recorded cases of players positive for Covid-19. Are you worried about the resumption of the epidemic?
When I see people living, walking, in the city center, congregating and not just on terraces, I wonder if we haven't quickly forgotten that we are still exposed. In this sense, I fully approve of the recent measures making in particular the wearing of a mask compulsory in closed places. It is still a minimum.
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