AS Saint-Etienne general manager Claude Puel said Thursday that the dispute between the Forézien club and its goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier, laid off by ASSE, was "an epiphenomenon". The player must be received by his management on July 22.
“For me, this is an epiphenomenon insofar as a player, who sees his position questioned, skids, like his entourage. He penalizes himself but I don't want him to penalize the group that is preparing the final of the Coupe de France. I have to be the guarantor and protect the workforce, ”said Puel at a press conference.
🗣️ The focus of Claude #Puel 👔: "It is a pleasure to train this group. There is good cohesion between young and old. I protect the group and guarantee its good state of mind. Each player must respect the collective. I am very much on this issue. " pic.twitter.com/TfA72s1BMb
- AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) July 16, 2020Originally, Claude Puel had dismissed Ruffier (383 games with the Greens) in favor of his lining Jessy Moulin to play against Reims on February 23 in Ligue 1 after several poor performances by his number one goalkeeper. "It was a sporting choice that is not accepted by the player," said the manager of the Greens.
In the process, Ruffier's agent, Patrick Glanz, had made very harsh remarks against Puel. ASSE had responded by initiating legal proceedings against the agent for not having to pay him his last commission of 180,000 euros. “It is not a story between a coach and a player but between an employee and a club that employs him. No one is above the club, "said Puel.
"It seems that this happens quite often in Saint-Etienne"
"As with any player who gets lost, it is up to him to come back with good behavior, especially towards his teammates," insisted the technician, rejecting the idea of a bad atmosphere within the '' squad, which has just won its first three friendly matches against Rumilly-Vallières, Nice and Charleroi.
“When we live with the group in training since June 17 and we see nonsense or“ fake news ”(…) from former car sellers, pseudo agents or others, it's particular. It seems that this happens quite often in Saint-Etienne ”he was surprised.
Debuchy also demines
“There is a gap with what we experience on a daily basis and the quality of work, the atmosphere. I am perplexed to see the translation made of it outside ”, was offended Claude Puel, also refuting an alleged altercation with Mathieu Debuchy.
The latter, who was also present in the press, supported the words of his coach. "Of course we had a discussion [with the coach], but in no case were there any insults," said the defender. I was very surprised to learn that we almost came to blows. It is still scandalous. "
Sport
ASSE: The Greens take legal action against Stéphane Ruffier's agent and demand 1.6 million euros from him
- Claude puel
- Stéphane Ruffier
- ASSE
- Soccer
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