Gourcuff, the Lorient coach, took aim at PSG over the weekend, despite their stellar season in French Ligue 1 and their impending qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals. He criticized coaches who delegate coaching duties, singling out Laurent Blanc: “I don’t like coaches who don’t coach even if they manage to bring together all individualistic behaviors.”
Blanc swiftly fired back, asserting, “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Gourcuff, but we have to evolve! You can do the training sessions yourself. We have resources for that. I believe that assistants can also be competent in this area. I passed my coaching diplomas. Mr. Gourcuff had to pass them too, thirty years ago. He should review them now and realize that the profession has evolved.”
He continued, “There is communication in coaching courses now. Thirty years ago, there was no such thing. And do they still offer lawn mowing classes?”
A direct and cutting response from Blanc, highlighting the evolution of coaching methods and dismissing the notion of outdated practices.
