Former LOSC coach, from 2002 to 2008, Claude Puel recently leaps in the past by remembering the delicate management in the Northern Éric Abidal.
Lille from 2002 to 2004, Éric Abidal marked LOSC at the beginning of the 21st century by defending its colors 68 times. Among the Dogues, under the leadership of Claude Puel, he proved to be one of the best defenders in the championship. The management of his case was however not easy, as the Tarn technician recently entrusted during an interview with Swann Borsellino in the program Box to Box Made and broadcast for and on the social networks of the Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
From Monaco to Lille
Before disembarking in the North, where he was one of the pillars of a new project following the work carried out by Vahid Halilhodžić, Claude Puel led the Monegasque troops on the rock. It was there that he tied a link with Éric Abidal: “I allowed him to try with us. I found it very interesting and I told the leaders in Monaco to have it signed. I made it begin the following year, in the championship and in the Champions League. It was a left back that reminded me a little Lilian Thuram. He had really interesting qualities ”recalled Claude Puel.
The latter’s departure, in 2001, was fraught with consequences for his protégé: “And then, I went to Lille. It was then no longer considered by Didier (Deschamps), who had his reasons, and The kid phoned me all the time
to take ithe continued. It was then that he cracked. And by dint of insisting, I told my president Michel Seydoux:
‘Listen to President, if you manage to have it on loan with a small sum that you can raise, it would be very good’. And that is what he managed to have: a small sum if we ever raised the purchase option ”explained the Tarnais.
The interest of Paris Saint-Germain
Author of a conclusive first year in Lille, during which he appeared 30 times under his standard, Éric Abidal attacked an increasing interest in France: “He arrived during the season in October. And immediately,
I needed someone in the axis because there were injured and It was extraordinary. At the end of the season, there are a lot of clubs that wanted it. There is Paris Saint-Germain de (Vahid) Halilhodžić who short-circuited him, making him visit the training center, the stadium, while talking to him about a salary … “.
“He hit the door of my office and he passed through”
But Claude Puel was not ready to abandon so easily:
“We, on our side, we raise the option, but he did not want to sign his contract. He was absent. It was difficult.
After a month, we did not drop. We received him in my office, I said to him, ‘I won’t let you go. You arrived during the season. I made you sign in Monaco. You were in Lyon-La Duchère. I made you start, I enrolled you in the professional environment. I took you back to Lille, the club allowed you to reveal yourself. You owe at least a year to the club and you have to stay for the following year. It is a question of respect “he considered like this.
Long live anger in the offices
This categorical refusal to give it up to the club of the capital was first of all the cause of a hell of a bloodstream on the side of the LOSC:
“He was like crazy. He got up.
He hit the door of my office and he passed through. She was not very solidremembered Claude Puel, who then sported a big smile. He then left without saying anything. »»
“And then the next day, he was in training.
He did not speak to me for more than a month But immediately a very high level and he had an extraordinary seasonrecalls the former LOSC coach. At the end of the season, he signed in Lyon, then Barcelona. From there, it was a player always respectful compared to his environment, his teammates. We developed a player, but also the man in Lille. And yet, we could have lost everything ”ended up welcoming Claude Puel, coach but also a trainer at heart.
