deviant
07-06-2007, 06:03 PM
I've seen attacks on teammates and insults but this one tops them all, could this be the end of lyon? I expect to see many of their players go now.
Govou blasts egotistical Juninho
AFP
June 7, 2007
LYON, France (AFP) - France striker Sidney Govou on Thursday launched a scathing attack on his Brazilian team-mate Juninho, accusing him of being egotistical.
Despite Lyon coasting to a record sixth French title in a row last season, Govou claimed in an interview in the monthly Lyon Mag that the club's form dipped in the second half of the season due to deteriorating morale.
"The club had difficulties managing the egos. There were many relationship problems in the team," he said. "The worst was concerning Juninho.
"From the beginning of the season Gerard Houllier (the coach) and Jean-Michel Aulas (the president) decided to proclaim Juninho as the star of the team. Personally I didn't care but that posed many problems for some of the team's main players."
Govou, who is one of Lyon's highest earners despite scoring a solitary league goal last season, slammed the preferential treatment handed out to Juninho.
"In the end we understood that there was him and the rest. That ended up damaging what had made Lyon strong over so many years: group unity.
"Throughout the years we built up a family at Lyon but this last season that was no longer the case. There were more egos. And a large part of the problem was Juninho."
Govou claims to have spoken about the issue with Juninho and said he doesn't blame the Brazilian.
"It's not his fault. This status of team star put too much pressure on him. He changed his attitude on the pitch. During games he wanted to be the saviour.
"We all saw that he was more nervous and he started to berate us on the pitch. The other players stopped listening to Juninho."
Govou blasts egotistical Juninho
AFP
June 7, 2007
LYON, France (AFP) - France striker Sidney Govou on Thursday launched a scathing attack on his Brazilian team-mate Juninho, accusing him of being egotistical.
Despite Lyon coasting to a record sixth French title in a row last season, Govou claimed in an interview in the monthly Lyon Mag that the club's form dipped in the second half of the season due to deteriorating morale.
"The club had difficulties managing the egos. There were many relationship problems in the team," he said. "The worst was concerning Juninho.
"From the beginning of the season Gerard Houllier (the coach) and Jean-Michel Aulas (the president) decided to proclaim Juninho as the star of the team. Personally I didn't care but that posed many problems for some of the team's main players."
Govou, who is one of Lyon's highest earners despite scoring a solitary league goal last season, slammed the preferential treatment handed out to Juninho.
"In the end we understood that there was him and the rest. That ended up damaging what had made Lyon strong over so many years: group unity.
"Throughout the years we built up a family at Lyon but this last season that was no longer the case. There were more egos. And a large part of the problem was Juninho."
Govou claims to have spoken about the issue with Juninho and said he doesn't blame the Brazilian.
"It's not his fault. This status of team star put too much pressure on him. He changed his attitude on the pitch. During games he wanted to be the saviour.
"We all saw that he was more nervous and he started to berate us on the pitch. The other players stopped listening to Juninho."