In a recent interview with the newspaper L’Équipe, Paulo Fonseca, the current coach of Olympique Lyonnais, detailed the nature of his collaboration with John Textor, owner of the club. Arrived after Pierre Sage, Fonseca seems to have stabilized the team and recorded encouraging performances both in Ligue 1 and in Ligue Europa, a dynamic that visibly satisfies the main shareholder, known for his propensity to replace coaches in case of unfavourable results. The Portuguese coach highlighted a regular and in-depth communication with Mr Textor, which goes far beyond mere feedback on sports performance.

The interview revealed that Fonseca has a relationship with John Textor based on full transparency, with weekly exchanges before and after the meetings. The coach emphasizes the importance of sharing his tactical choices and justifications behind his decisions, believing that this approach promotes mutual understanding and strengthens cohesion within the club. He also stressed the importance of communication with Matthieu Louis-Jean, the technical director, ensuring that he was always informed of the team’s intentions for each match.

Finally, Fonseca expressed its aversion to management structures that lack clarity or are reluctant to learn about the coach’s choices. He said that transparency and shared understanding greatly simplify the work and avoid post-matching questions. This approach, he said, is essential to building a relationship of trust and fruitful collaboration between the coach and the club’s management.