Ligue 1: "It's obvious that I want to coach" announces Pierre Sage a few weeks after his departure from Lyon

Fired on January 28 from his position as coach of Olympique Lyonnais, Pierre Sage spoke to our colleagues at L'Équipe . The former coach of the Gones spoke about his feelings about his departure from the club and his plans. Regarding the end of his adventure with OL, Sage seems to have turned the page even if he misses the daily life of the club: "I really miss football, I miss training, hearing the sound of the balls, setting up the equipment, preparing sessions and matches... But I also have a bit of mixed feelings about my departure, because I think it could have continued, without taking a sudden and rapid turn."

The French technician recounts the day of his departure and his meeting with his former president John Textor: "That day, I went to the club where Laurent Prud'homme (general manager) and Matthieu Louis-Jean (technical director) were present. They gave me a letter of suspension. They didn't give me any particular justification, but I didn't need one, I read between the lines. They also told me that John Textor (the president) was in Lyon and that he wanted to meet me. I accepted, for the good reason that I wanted to thank him in person for giving me the chance to coach at that level. And I also wanted to tell him that I felt I had seized this opportunity."

The 45-year-old coach is in any case proud to have succeeded in recreating a link between the Rhone supporters and their club: "It's the most beautiful victory, because one of the objectives of top-level football is to make people happy. Through what we produced, we created this connection, and I'm proud of that. I was surprised by the extent of the thanks, there were even frescoes... (....) And I have no bitterness at all in seeing the club continue in this harmony. I want people to be OL supporters, whether Pierre Sage is in the equation or not."

Regarding his future, Sage says he has received offers: "Yes, I have had several offers, but I first needed to take stock of what I have just experienced. And if I have to follow up on the requests, it is to find something that suits me and that corresponds to what I have just experienced, precisely. That is why I have refused quite a few things recently. Now, it is obvious that I want to coach because I miss it."

He even imagines himself returning to coach the club he has just left one day : "I am domiciled in Lyon and I plan to stay there. It is my city, and when I am required to work elsewhere I will always return to my city between my contracts. I will never sell the house that I am buying here for a good reason: I know that one day I will return to coach OL."