To formalize his departure from OL, 4th in the French Championship, Rudi Garcia had published a long message in which he thanked his players, Jean-Michel Aulas, "with whom I had an exceptional professional and human relationship" Vincent Ponsot, the general manager “for his great competence and his total involvement for the club”… but not Juninho.
In an interview with the Team, the now ex-coach drives the point home by revisiting his complicated relationship with the sports director, due in particular to the choice of certain players.
“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 has invested a lot, and that's a quality, but I certainly think he had to promise them to be the holder, ”points Garcia who admits to having thought of resigning during the winter break.
"I admire the player but the sports director lacked thought before acting"
“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
. If I had had to quit, I would have done so when I think the club was a perfect fit for me. I asked the question in my entourage and Vincent told me no. Rudi Garcia also says he often spoke on the subject with Jean-Michel Aulas. “He always knew everything. I got it almost every night on the phone. I informed him of everything. He's smart, he's got a bottle. Juni is a club idol, he was a great player and I hope he will be a great sports director. I wasn't going to be the man who sent Juni away. And to address a last tackle to Juninho.
“We could have discussed our differences, but if it's walking on each other's beds, it's not possible. He was reacting like a coach. Since November, he has put free kicks against his camp. I admire the player but the sports director lacked thought before acting. ”An output which did not seem to have been to the liking of Jean-Michel Aulas. "Very disappointed with the scorched earth policy of Rudi Garcia who is rewriting history, forgetting that he had the best workforce," severely replied the Lyon president on Twitter.