Bernard Gnechhi knows Rudi Garcia well. He was its president for five years in Dijon between 2002 and 2007 at the start of his coaching career. “He gave us a lot at that time. Already, Rudi knew what he wanted: to be at the top. In France, he succeeded (Editor's note: French champion with Lille in 2011) . Now he is trying at European level. Rudi, it's the profession that wants that, he's an individualist. He is very ambitious, he wants to go all the way, ”blows his former president in Dijon.
On Saturday night, before the quarter-final against City, Gnechhi sent him a little word of encouragement. Garcia responded with the shoots emoticon. Ready for battle. His fight, he undoubtedly won against Pep Guardiola, the coach of City.
“We were good in all areas, we won the tactical battle, that of communication, we put talent and a high-level collective mindset into it. Everyone got high, ”said Garcia after the Lyon feat. Its president, Jean-Michel Aulas, praised his "excellent coaching": " We had identified Rudi to redress OL. He knew with humility, and sometimes difficulties, to do his work. This is confirmation for me, he deserves recognition. "
"He got the most out of the players"
Recognition, Garcia has not always had it in Lyon. And the word is weak. Heavily criticized when he arrived at the club in October 2019, the vast majority of OL supporters did not want to hear from him, the technician saw his name hissed on numerous occasions by some OL fans.
The disenchantment has hardly diminished over the season. The technician has never been unanimous within his new club. Not just among the supporters. He knows it. The reputation of an overly individualistic coach sticks to him. “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, ”he explained to us before the round of 16 return leg of C1 in Turin in early August.
The famous results. After the two exploits, inevitably, the outlook of some has changed. Garcia has clearly gained credit. "We are not going to hit him when we have just released Juventus and Manchester City," says Julien, a loyal North Turn, so hostile to Garcia for months. He got the most out of the players. Well done to him. It doesn't mean that I like the man… ”
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Like Claude Puel, semi-finalist of the C1 with Lyon in 2010 but criticized so much during his stay in the Rhône, Garcia has not finished debating. “He must take advantage of the good times to settle down. It is a period that he likes a lot, the headlights are on him. And he's a man who loves the spotlight. Sometimes he needs to correct, in my opinion, his communication. Let him be a little less haughty, ”concludes Gnecchi.