Asked by Ivory Coast to replace Jean-Louis Gasset during the CAN, Hervé Renard showed himself resolutely interested. However, the operation could not be carried out…
Some may have considered this as a lack of respect. Hervé Renard motivated to lend a hand to Côte d’Ivoire in the middle of the African Cup of Nations, beyond his duties as coach of the French women’s team, this has raised eyebrows. The relief for many finally prevailed since the person concerned was unable to take up the challenge, attending from afar the coronation of the Elephants under the control of Emerse Faé.
This Thursday in a long interview given to RMC, Jean-Michel Aulas, vice-president of the French Football Federation, lifts the veil on the negotiations which took place last month with the Ivorian Football Federation. “ When I was asked the question as head of women’s football at the Federation, we spoke about it at length with Philippe (Diallo, president of the FFF, editor’s note) and it is true that there was a reluctance in principle. And when we looked at things concretely, I called the most leading players in the EDF to find out their perception and the system was reversed: starting from French women’s football, a coach will win the CAN or will show that He is not only very competent in women’s football but also men’s football, and on the contrary it could be a promotion. On the other hand, it had to be clear between Hervé Renard and us; and it was. He told us that he could be of service to Côte d’Ivoire, that it interested him because he has an emotional link with the CAN. »
An economic dispute between the two federations
According to the former boss of OL, therefore, the FFF was rather inclined to temporarily release Hervé Renard. “ After the period of surprise, we said to ourselves that on the contrary, everyone had to imagine that the fact that Hervé Renard could bring a solution to African football and world football as coach of the women’s EDFinsists Jean-Michel Aulas. There was no ambiguity, I spoke to him on the phone. This was not done for reasons that were not linked to Hervé but to the relationship between the federations on an economic level. That being said, it didn’t pose a problem for me and it even strengthened the bond of trust between Hervé and us. »
A speech shared by the international tricolor Delphine Cascarino, in an interview with Agence France Presse: “ It hasn’t really been a subject, if he wants to go and win the CAN with a team he can go as long as he is then available for us. Given that it wasn’t at the same time, frankly he does what he wants. On the contrary, let him go and win and that way he comes back motivated and wants to relive that feeling of victory with us. It didn’t bother me at all. »
