Lyon presidential advisor Bernard Lacombe has revealed his shock at Sidney Govou's tirade against the club.
French forward slams coach and expresses desire to leave
Lyon presidential advisor Bernard Lacombe has revealed his shock at Sidney Govou's tirade against the club.
The France international has stunned the Ligue 1 giants by launching a scathing attack on the club and manager Claude Puel.
He revealed that he has no relationship with the coach and plans to leave Stade Gerland in the summer at the end of his contract.
Govou told
L'Equipe: "Will I leave? Yes, at the end of my deal in June. I took the decision a long time ago.
"In the changing room and around the club I feel people want me to stay, but I don't know what can make me want to stay.
"Paris St Germain would appeal to me but they have problems of their own and I don't know if they would want me.
"I could have spoken out earlier, but in December the team was in a difficult situation and I didn't want to make things worse."
On his relationship with Puel, Govou, who was stripped of the Lyon captaincy earlier this season following a drunken incident, added: "I have no relationship. I don't like his man-management.
"I know you can't let the players do what they want, but I regret the lack of understanding between us."
Regrettable
The outburst has left Lacombe stunned, with the Lyon hierarchy unable to comprehend Govou's motives behind such an attack.
"Sidney's comments are regrettable. When you know the lad like I know him, you can't be anything but shocked," said Lacombe.
"In this interview he gave to
L'Equipe he attacked the club.
"I think we have certainly done a lot for him, more than for the others. It's a bit uncalled for that he's making these type of comments.
"He does not have the right, I repeat it, to touch the club.
"He has achieved superb things and won everything with the club. But these different victories do not allow him to speak no matter what. It's a bit surprising, he was tactless.
"I don't understand what he wants to get from this. If I remember rightly, it was Claude who chose him as captain at the beginning of the season and the club offered him a two-year contract extension because they had confidence in him.
"Then, after certain events that everyone is aware of, we simply explained to him that we would keep this offer on the condition that his behaviour remained exemplary."
