Jorge Sampaoli sparks his first controversy

The arrival of Jorge Sampaoli at Stade Rennais surprised more than one. How could the Breton club, renowned for having a rather calm and quiet environment, choose a coach with a strong character and not really used to staying very long in his clubs? At a time when many are wondering when the first clash with the Argentinian will occur, the latter has managed to provoke a first controversy. But not in France.

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Asked last Tuesday about the feeling he felt when making his return to Ligue 1, Sampaoli explained his enthusiasm to return to a competitive championship by recalling that France knew how to regularly release great talents, in the absence of having the championship more rated. “I really like Ligue 1, the way the teams play. I think the best players in the world come from France and Brazil.» And this statement did not please his country. Asked about this, the coach of the reigning world champions, Lionel Scaloni, did not pay attention to it. “I didn’t see what he said, but everyone has their own opinion. »

“He’s a coach we don’t like here”

On the other hand, the local media did not particularly appreciate seeing one of their own advertising the ancestral Brazilian rival and the new French enemy. And obviously, they did not miss the opportunity to scratch El Pelado (the bald one). “Sampaoli's controversial statement after his arrival in Rennes” (TyC Sports), “Sampaoli's tirade against Argentine football as he takes the reins of a Ligue 1 club in the grip of relegation” (Clarin), “Sampaoli forgot Argentina and exasperated the fans from France” (El Destape). A wave of rather fierce criticism which does not surprise Claudio Mauri, journalist at The Nation.

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“Sampaoli is a coach who causes a lot of rejection in Argentina. He is not liked because of his personality, but also because he represents the last chaotic episode of the selection during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His relationship with the team, the elimination against France… Here, he has a profile that does not please. He didn't make the selection play well while it was quite the opposite with Scaloni who calmed it all down. He is a coach that we don't like here also because he has no link with an important club in Argentina. He developed his coaching career abroad, whether in South America or Europe. Here he is not linked to any club, big or small. Nobody defends him”he let us know. Spring has arrived in Argentina, but Sampaoli is already dressed for the next winter.