Interview with Juninho shortly on RMC to discuss several subjects, including his vision for OL and the team's transfer policy this Summer 🔴🔵 #TeamOL
Juninho is very clear on his goals this season: qualify for the Champions League.
On Rudi Garcia: when Juni appointed him, he told him there was a lack of discipline
On CBs: there are 2, 3 names being studied with Bruno Cheyrou, but we can expect to see more of Sinaly Diomandé
On whether he has had any doubts: he's been afraid, he's had doubts, but he's a fighter. He's convinced he's got the necessary experience and that he's capable of contributing to OL.
On his relationship with players/Rudi: he meets players very often, with Rudi everyday. Juni feels he gets along with everyone, and he says it's important to talk with players regularly. He'll meet with Jeff today.
On the mentality of his players: Juninho insisted on more intense trainings: it's not enough to train at 60% or 80% when you're supposed to be at 100% every match. He doesn't oblige players to win, but to give 100% every time they're on the pitch.
On the mentality of his players: we're very poor at set-pieces, the positioning of players off-the-ball needs to improve. He would rather that attackers move off-the-ball, propose solutions and help to win the ball back.
On the team's pressure: when the team is attacking and it loses the ball, it's important to try and win it back immediately in the next five, six seconds. We're not good at that and we need to work more on that.
On whether Memphis Depay is signing with Barça: no official offers yet, from anyone. JMA has made a lot of efforts, with a big contract extension offer to Memphis. If Barcelona makes an offer, the club will study the offer, but the club is capable of holding on to him otherwise.
On whether Memphis Depay can extend: JMA is ready to make big efforts, but Juninho thinks it's difficult. Memphis has not put in a transfer request and he has not received any offers either.
On Aouar and Dembele: they're valuable players, but the club has not received any offers either. It's possible that Aouar leaves, Dembele too. The club has advanced negotiations for replacements if they had to leave, but Juni is tight-lipped about them.
On replacements for transfers: not all departures will be replaced with new signings. No need to replace Marçal, for example. Juninho believes in Jean Lucas and Jeff.
On replacements for transfers: If I understood correctly, he won't allow all three of Dembele, Aouar and Memphis leave this Summer. The club hasn't decided yet whether to sell one or two of them.
On Arsenal offer for Aouar: Juninho has talked with Edu (Arsenal), Arteta likes Aouar. Arsenal did offer Guendouzi, but it's not the kind of player the club needs. Nothing more since then.
On Aouar: his case is different from Memphis (he's young, home-grown, knows the club well). Juninho has not talked a lot with Aouar about a transfer yet.
On Aouar wrt City and PSG (no mention of Juventus by RMC): OL hasn't been contacted by City and PSG. There might have been contacts through agents though. Juninho knows Pep appreciates Aouar.
On Aouar staying: he thinks Aouar would benefit from staying another year, and his value could go up if he improves some aspects of his play.
On Umtiti and Lacazette: his contract is on another level and the club doesn't afford it. He talked with Lacazette for a six-month loan to get his confidence back.
On Thiago Silva: Juninho dreamed of it, but it was impossible. He did talk with JMA for a two-year offer, but it could not happen.
On Jeff: Juninho was surprised because Jeff never talked to him about it. Jeff didn't play because of the ACL, but if Aouar leaves, he could replace him. Juninho talked with Jeff's agent (his brother), who's inexperienced and should not have attacked the club like that.
More on Jeff: the club can't invest €25M on a player and then sell him. He can't say 100% Jeff will stay, but it's illogical to sell him now. (The club is -not- planning to sell Jeff, so he'll have to clash with the club if he really wants to leave.)
Trying to keep up with Juninho so some things might not be very clear, like the first sentence in this update. Juninho is talking about Umtiti's contract, which the club doesn't afford.
On Pellistri: Juninho likes him: he's young with a European passport with a great character. It's not easy for him to come and be a starter just yet because he's too young. It's not an easy subject because there are many big teams after him, and Juninho is not sure he'll sign.
On Gouiri: there's always a lot of competition in big teams, which is why he didn't play a lot. OL wanted to loan Gouiri out, get him back and let him win his place. But Gouiri did not want that. To fans: playing in the reserves is not the same as playing with the seniors.
On recruiting great youngsters from the Lyon region: yes, JMA insisted on it with Juninho. Two steps to get them to the senior squad: first professional contract, and cementing their place in the team (dealing with pressure, media etc…).
On Benzema: Juninho dreams of having Benzema retiring with Lyon, but he doesn't want him to return when he's winding down. He would like him to join for 2 seasons, for example, be the captain and play in the UCL.
More on Benzema: the club doesn't afford his salary, but the club is ready to discuss with him when the time is right.
On his relationship with Leonardo: there's a rivalry, they used to be closer before. However, Leonardo is a model for Juninho because he has had experience directing clubs.
On France: he cannot forget where he came from, but France is a special place for him (where he became famous, made money, had two kids).
On Brazil, COVID-19 and Bolsonaro: Brazil is still dearest to his heart, so it hurts seeing Brazil struggling so much with what's going on.
On his career after retiring: he wants to stay at least five years in Lyon, win trophies and participate in the Champions League.
That's the last of it. As usual, candid interview with Juninho: he seems to be aware of the team's problems, and it's nice to have someone around at the club to talk tactics. Still, I would have preferred to hear more about his vision for OL instead of some 'empty' questions.
