Turin (Italy) (AFP)

At best, two transplants that have not yet taken. At worst, two rejections: Maurizio Sarri at Juventus and Rudi Garcia in Lyon are two disputed and unloved coaches, who will try to bring their teams to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday.

On the one hand, the keyword #SarriOut. On the other, the "meme" (parody and viral image on the internet) of Rudi Garcia made up as a clown. Social networks are cruel and have not spared this season the two technicians who will face each other in Turin on Friday.

Because even if their profiles and the scenarios of their arrival at Juve and OL are different, the two stories look like poor marriages.

In Turin, Sarri came to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who embodied almost to the caricature the credo of the Piedmontese club: "Winning is the only thing that matters".

Sarri had to bring something else, more play, more sparkle, always winning but more attractive football.

In absolute terms, the tifosi would not have said no. But for them, much more than a maestro or an esthete of football, Sarri was a man of Napoli.

For three years, from 2015 to 2018, Naples and Sarri have indeed tried to challenge the domination of Juventus and the cigarette trainer has not stopped denouncing the supposed advantages that the club bianconero would have enjoyed: arbitration, schedule , political weight.

- Very fresh welcome -

Under these conditions, it is difficult to imagine oneself on conquered ground and the reception given by the Juventini supporters was in fact very fresh. #SarriOut, already.

But the real perplexity came later, faced with the difficulties of Juventus in the game. Few collective combinations, little control, no trace of the famous "sarrismo" which had enchanted Naples.

In the end, Juventus relied on the exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Dybala and observers felt the club had changed Sarri far more than the other way around.

"It's not easy to come into a winning team and immediately impose his ideas. I think he has managed to adapt well and that next year he will be able to have more influence" , all the same defended Carlo Ancelotti, also passed by the benches of Juventus, Naples and Chelsea.

Still, Friday's meeting is essential for Sarri. Even if his leaders have assured that he will be there next season, failure at this stage of the test would be devastating.

Things are a little different for Rudi Garcia. Qualifying for the quarter-finals would be a great accomplishment, but probably insufficient to rekindle a link, which has never existed, with the supporters.

From his appointment in October to replace the ephemeral Sylvinho, Garcia was indeed rejected by the Lyon fans for his past in Marseille where, a bit like the Neapolitan Sarri, he had often lamented a arbitration deemed favorable to the club of Jean-Michel Aulas.

- "Part of suffering" -

The famous montage of the clown then marked a climax in the detestation of the fans and led OL to threaten to file a complaint in the event of social media outbursts.

In a program broadcast on OL TV in May, Garcia for his part admitted a "share of suffering" in the face of this difficult relationship with the supporters, while saying "combative and eager to move forward".

The former coach of AS Rome is in any case defended by the institution, in particular by Aulas and the sporting director Juninho, with whom the relationship seems fluid.

His choice to evolve regularly in 3-5-2, with some success, and the successful transformation of Cornet into the left side are to his credit.

But, if it would probably not be enough to recover its popularity among the public in Lyon, it is obvious that a qualification against Juventus would considerably strengthen its position.

Above all, Garcia has a great opportunity to undermine his reputation as a failing coach on major occasions, especially since his return to France. For that, he needs a result on Friday in the duel of the unloved ones.

© 2020 AFP