Lyon (AFP)

Its history with Lyon begins as it ended in Marseille: by the mistrust of supporters ultras. The first of Rudi Garcia on the bench of OL, this Saturday against Dijon (17H30), will be scrutinized with attention because of the reserves of kops about the coach.

The appointment of the 55-year-old technician on Monday is far from unanimous.

Its detractors have reminded it forcefully on social networks and through a petition online: the era Garcia at the head of the OM (2016-19) was marked by multiple pikes of the coach to the club lyonnais. In derogatory remarks and verbal exchanges with President Jean-Michel Aulas about an arbitration supposedly favorable to the Rhone club, there is indeed a rather heavy liability.

But the immediate goal of Garcia is not so much to engage a seduction operation towards this part of the public of the Groupama stadium for which his chances of success are minimal, but especially to start the rise in the ranking of his new team. Only victory will count.

Olympique Lyonnais remain on a series of seven matches without winning the championship, fatal to the Brazilian coach Sylvinho, arrived in June and landed October 7. Lyon is 14th in Ligue 1 with only one point ahead of the DFCO, the last tie with Metz, which OL face on 26 October.

The goal of Aulas is to see his OL on the podium at the time of the winter break, while being qualified for the 8th finals of the Champions League.

- Meeting with ultras -

To try to clear the stands, Rudi Garcia invited himself this week to a meeting with the representatives of the two main associations of ultras.

It was planned with the club management since the defeat in the derby in Saint-Etienne on October 6 (1-0) which was also not very well received.

"What was said, it stays between them and us, but I think that in the dialogue, it's always more interesting, it's up to us to put them behind us, we need to wets the shirt and to produce a game that will lead us to win, "said the new coach at a press conference on Thursday.

Because, beyond the results, Garcia also has the mission to restore a game identity to a moribund OL that no longer knows how to attack and still can not defend.

"We absolutely have to win, especially when we play at home, but to win, there is content to be put in the game, envy, determination ... We are on the match against Dijon and we will have plenty of time to prepare the one in Lisbon against Benfica in the Champions League "Wednesday, said the technician.

"I expect my players to play as a team to beat Dijon, which we must beat when we are Olympique Lyonnais, obviously," he continued.

Garcia also explained "do not want to flood his team" but give him the most important ".

- OM-OL already in the heads -

However, regarding the style and the attitude of the team, Juninho acknowledged Tuesday that Lyon "had lost the bases left by Bruno (Genesio)", which, today coach of Beijing Guoan, 2nd of the championship of China, has also supported his successor in an interview Thursday at the daily Le Progrès.

"He is an excellent coach who has proven himself, he will be able to count on quality players and men very present", quoting Jean-Michel Aulas and Juninho, and barking a little Marseille.

"OL is 20-22 players of very high level and OM, for two years, is 14-15 players of very high level, no more," said Genesio.

Between such remarks and the return of Garcia at the Vélodrome, the match between Marseille and Lyon, November 10, promises to be animated already.

© 2019 AFP