Paris (AFP)

Their skirmishes by media interposed launched the final of the Coupe de la Ligue: sporting directors Leonardo and Juninho meet on Friday for the clash between Paris SG and Lyon, at the heart of a crucial summer for them.

- Neymar, subject of contention -

At the beginning of July, French football was slowly recovering from the disorder caused by the anticipated interruption of Ligue 1 in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, when two of its biggest clubs found a new bone of contention: Neymar.

"He signed to PSG only for the money. PSG gave him everything, everything he wanted, and now he wants to leave before the end of his contract," Juninho attacked in the columns of the British newspaper The Guardian, adding that the superstar had to "challenge herself and grow."

"It would be better to talk about his club. We don't talk about the OL situation and I ask OL not to talk about our players and our club," Leonardo replied on RMC Sport.

Since then, the media blast has fallen between the two leaders, as the pressure grew around them. Between recruiting and the upcoming Champions League, “Juni” and “Leo” are facing very busy weeks.

- Mercato: Juninho learns, Leonardo waits -

Two former players, two Brazilians whose mandate started last summer, but two very opposite profiles, when it comes to evoking their experience or their style.

Juninho, OL legend, discovered the life of a sports director in the Rhône, without experience in this position. His debut was not a success, with casting errors (coach Sylvinho) which plagued a disappointing season, which ended in 7th place.

It has been a "year of observation". "He missed two and a half months (due to the pandemic, editor's note), but I cannot say that the season has been good. We could not play the European Cup next season and if it is the case, it will hurt us, "he conceded to the regional daily Le Progrès.

The summer of 2020 was that of adjustments with, in particular, the departure to Rennes of Florian Maurice, the head of recruitment, replaced by Bruno Cheyrou.

And there is no doubt that "Juni" will be eagerly awaited to rebuild a workforce capable of regaining the top places in Ligue 1.

From his experience, his networks, his sober and clean-shaven look, Leonardo contrasts with the beginner Juninho, round glasses and graying beard. Attracting in particular Mauro Icardi and Keylor Navas last August, "Leo" has successfully returned to the capital, where he had worked between 2011 and 2013 in the same functions.

His summer 2020 was mainly occupied by the burning issue of the end of contract: if he managed to convince Thiago Silva to stay until August, Edinson Cavani, Thomas Meunier - who criticized him a lot - and Tanguy Kouassi left through the back door, leaving a big void in the workforce.

As in Lyon, it will be necessary to wait for the end of C1 to see the file of their replacements evolve, in an unprecedented transfer window that ends in October. "Leo" has work to do, not to mention extra time by Kylian Mbappé and Neymar who are also on the table.

- Champions League: the justice of the peace -

Reading their agenda for the coming weeks underlines the importance of the Champions League, the last meeting of a 2019-2020 season truncated by the coronavirus. The result in C1 will set the tone when it comes to taking stock.

OL dream of an exploit in the round of 16 second leg against Juventus Turin, Italy on August 7, in order to see the final eight-way tournament ("Final 8") in Lisbon (August 12-23), for which the PSG is already qualified.

"In the quarter-finals, everyone has a chance," Juninho assured Progress. On the other hand, failures in the Coupe de la Ligue and C1 could condemn OL in its first season without Europe since 1997.

"The format is different, and each of these teams will have a chance to win," agreed Leonardo, whose team will meet Atalanta Bergamo in the quarterfinals on 12 August. At the end of the day, a historic quintuplet that PSG could look for in the summer of its fiftieth anniversary.

But, between "Juni" and "Leo" on Friday there will be only one winner.

© 2020 AFP