Seventy six. This is the number of days that Fabio Grosso will have spent as coach of Olympique Lyonnais. Due to mediocre results – one victory in seven Ligue 1 matches – and poor performance, the Italian coach was fired this Thursday. Proof that the situation was (very) complicated, the ex-defender would have had a fairly tense confrontation with his players this Monday, the day after the home defeat against LOSC (0-2). Annoyed, he reportedly said to them: “If you think it’s me [the problem, editor’s note], go see Textor and tell him to fire me, but you have to have the c******* to tell me say it to your face, first. I think it’s our common fault but if you don’t agree with that, go see Textor. I just ask you to tell me first,” reports L’Équipe, in its columns this Friday.
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After seeing Fabio Grosso, the American owner of the Rhone club would have met all the players of the first team – and not just the executives – this Wednesday. However, he would not have wanted to discuss the coach with them. “The coach, it’s not your problem, I won’t talk about it with you,” he allegedly told them, in comments reported by the sports daily. The fact remains that the Italian technician was dismissed a few hours later.
Pierre Sage, the director of the training center, was appointed head of the first team. At least temporarily, for the match against RC Lens this Saturday afternoon (5 p.m.), and probably for the match against Olympique de Marseille next Wednesday (9 p.m.). But as our colleagues from L’Équipe reveal, the 44-year-old technician could stay in place “in the event of good results”. Currently, several avenues are being considered to succeed Fabio Grosso in the “long” term. Notably the one leading to Bruno Génésio, who recently left Stade Rennes. The former Lyon coach “would feel enough energy to take over OL”. To see if the Rhone leaders, and the new sports director David Friio in the lead, are ready to (re)give him the keys to the club.