A few weeks ago, it was only supposed to be a formality.
OL and Rudi Garcia were going to leave each other, on good terms, at the end of the latter's contract, in June 2021. The departure of the one who has led the Lyon first team since October 2019 seemed to be over.
But for some time now, the future far from Lyon de Garcia has been less obvious.
The results, obviously, helping.
Recently, questions have been coming to Jean-Michel Aulas on the subject.
“If Rudi can arrive at the end of the season with objectives achieved, we will have the same vision as in the past, we will judge both on his performance and on the potential to be able to continue.
If there is very, very good news, obviously everything would be possible, ”JMA repeated on Tuesday in L'Equipe.
A speech that has been running for several weeks now.
In the Rhône, Garcia won credit yes, he won time, but he has not yet overturned the table.
At the club, in Lyon, it is still not unanimous.
Far from there.
Moreover, the roles are well established.
Garcia is still "only a coach".
The transfer window, the arrival of new players, the medium-term vision, it is always the business of Juninho, the sporting director.
All this has not changed.
Despite the current good results, Garcia still has much less room for maneuver in Lyon than in Marseille during his reign between 2016 and 2019.
The vast majority of supporters have not changed their minds
The tendency, at time t, for a possible extension of the contract, is still unfavorable to him.
“But the decision has not been taken,” assures us a source at OL.
The supporters, for their part, have not changed their minds on the former OM coach.
They were very reserved when he arrived in October 2019, and the word is weak.
It's always the same.
And the leaders are very attentive, even more in the current period, to the feelings of their fans.
For now, Lyon is playing the clock.
"Indecision allows people to surpass themselves," Aulas persuades himself.
“The president just said what has been confirmed for a long time.
We saw together the fact of seeing each other again, when it will be the moment, to discuss the rest.
Certainly at the end of the season, confided Rudi Garcia a few days ago.
And, until then, it's only the next game that counts and being in the top three at the end of the exercise.
Nothing else.
"
The goal is the podium and regain the Champions League.
Achieving the goal does not mean that it will "save" Garcia either.
Even a title, so long dreamed of, would not guarantee him anything.
Alain Perrin, author of the French Championship-Coupe double with OL, in 2008, can attest to this.
He was champion… and was not retained.
Other factors will also come into play.
The ability to unite a whole club behind him, to project himself into the future, to build a project.
Today, all these factors remain unfavorable to Rudi Garcia.
Despite the (good) results.
