Lyon (AFP)

Still in the learning phase as sports director, the Brazilian Juninho, whose return to Lyon had been celebrated with great fanfare in May, finally marks his first good points with the recruitment of his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes.

The former Olympian Lyons idol was very persuasive in obtaining the transfer of the Club Atletico Paranaense player for 20 million euros during the winter transfer window in the face of big competition, from Atlético Madrid in particular.

It was well seen: at 22, Guimaraes has just delivered two successful services against Metz (2-0), Friday, February 21, then against Juventus Turin in the knockout round of the Champions League Wednesday (1- 0).

What transform a hardworking team whose season had still not taken off when entering its final stretch and facing Saint-Etienne in the derby on Sunday (9:00 p.m.)?

- Lost Paris -

Until then, Juninho's choices had been lost bets - starting with entrusting the management of the team to Brazilian Sylvinho, a novice to his post, like him, sacked the day after the defeat at Saint-Etienne (1-0), October 6.

His compatriots, Jean Lucas, debauchery of Flamengo for 8 M EUR, or Thiago Mendes, arrived from Lille for 22 M EUR and more visible on social networks than on the ground, remain for the time of failures, while the club n 'has never spent as much on its recruitment (126 M EUR excluding bonus during the last two mercatos).

Juninho now assumes to have contributed to the choice as coach of Rudi Garcia, yet hated by OL supporters.

"Of course, there are a lot of doubts because it is the first time that I hold the role of sports director", had anticipated Juninho during his press conference of presentation at the end of May while the president Jean-Michel Aulas announced that "he was leaving him full powers over sports policy".

Despite his glorious past as a player in Lyon (2001-2009) - which still gives him a certain immunity with ultra groups - the old icon has to face an almost permanent agitation on their part whether due to the disappointing results or the attitudes of the players.

His return had helped, at least in the first weeks, to calm a climate that had become foul-smelling around OL during the Bruno Genesio era.

- Agitation on social networks -

"Some (players) may have a less passionate personality. There is a lack of natural leaders but I trust them. They are responsible. We also assume that the choice of Rudi Garcia as coach was not that supporters, "he told local daily Le Progrès on Monday.

A first individual press interview since his arrival, an exercise to which the new leader, long absent from the media, is still reluctant.

"But it is the president, the management committee, I as the sports director too, who make the decisions," he said.

Since the end of his career, the world of football has evolved: as a leader, he must now measure the impact of social networks on which the reactions of fans are sometimes excessive both for the club and for the players.

After the victory over Juventus Turin on Wednesday, the derby against Saint-Etienne and the semi-final of the Coupe de France Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain will be all indicators of the possibilities of Lyon to qualify once again for a European Cup.

Taking up this challenge will validate the orientations of Juninho in his role as sports director.

© 2020 AFP