Ligue 1: Lyon coach Hubert Fournier denies rift with Yoann Gourcuff

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Last week it appeared as though the wheels were coming off Olympique Lyonnais’ title challenge when Les Gones lost 2-1 at home to OGC Nice.

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The match was also notable for the actions of Yoann Gourcuff, who decided that he was unfit and substituted himself just after half-time.

The playmaker’s actions were apparently condemned by club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, who retweeted the comments of a supporter criticising the midfielder for taking matters into his own hands.

Injury ruled the former Milan midfielder out of France’s international friendlies against Brazil and Denmark, and having been benched against LOSC Lille several weeks ago, there have been suggestions that Gourcuff threatened to become a bad influence within the Lyon dressing room.

“I want to react to what I’ve been reading about myself these last few days,” began Fournier, speaking in a press conference as reported by Lyon’s official website.

“The situation is clear, I have no problems with my technical team or with the club organisers. My relationship with Jean-Michel Aulas is very good.

“I don’t have a problem with Yoann Gourcuff either. Yes, his departure against Nice was an unpleasant surprise, but we’ve had a week to talk it over and this incident is closed.”

Defeat to Les Aiglons means that Lyon head into the international break one point off the Ligue 1 leaders having ceded their spot at the top to Paris Saint-Germain, who themselves beat FC Lorient last weekend.

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