Even during an international break, there always seems to be off-field drama in world football.
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo provided a question-and-answer interview to PSG TV where he spoke on a number of topics, including the football relationship between the club and the city of Paris. In a comment (via L’Equipe) that is sure to turn heads, Leonardo said: “Paris was never exactly the city of football. It is still Marseille. In Paris, there are still a lot of things we have to do.” Leonardo was clearly speaking on the two cities rather than the clubs themselves.
Former PSG manager Luis Fernandez spent years with the club as both a player and manager. He is rooted in the history of the club, whether it is with the multiple trophy wins or memorable tournament runs. And for Fernandez, he was not particularly pleased (via Le Parisien) with Leonardo’s comments.
“When I hear that, it revolts me, I don’t agree,” Fernandez said. “I don’t share his opinion at all. It’s true that when he went through the MTP, he stayed for ten years. That’s right, isn’t it? As for Rai, he liked the club. Even Ricardo, even Valdo. They didn’t come to the club to do a year, to burn out and go somewhere else. They liked the PSG. And we can’t take that away from these Brazilians. He left after a year. So when we talk about culture, you have to know what we’re saying.”
Fernandez also called for Leonardo to “respect the history of the club.” Fernandez continued by calling on Leonardo to remember those who have provided great contributions to the club.
“Yes, there is something to do with soccer in Paris,” Fernandez said. “First of all, and this you can also write, that Leonardo already respects all those players who wore the jersey and who are no longer there today. I am thinking of Thierry Bacconnier, Luc Borrelli, Michel N’Gom. The same goes for the managers. And then, with regard to the fans, I don’t like to hear that from him either. Because there have been two or three who have died, one of them recently. And you have to have a thought for those people, who loved this jersey with pride and defend it.
“There is a culture of the supporter at the PSG.”
The former PSG manager continued on by criticizing Leonardo’s handling of the team this year, including the controversial break given to the players following the UEFA Champions League knockout stage in August.
It will be interesting to see if other former PSG managers and even former players take exception to Leonardo’s comments.
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