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I was sitting in my office; leaning back and looking out the window as the youth team were training. They looked good, skilful and quick. I kept a little pad of notes I liked to make about things that were important and decided I would add one today. “Go to youth training tomorrow and go and watch their next match”. I thought it would give the youngsters a bit of motivation to step up but also I could go and do a bit of scouting myself and if there were a couple of players that really impressed, I may look to give them a senior call up.
Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the phone rang and I almost jumped out the window. It was a private number and normally my receptionist is putting callers through. Who was this and how did they get the direct line to my office?? I answered tentatively and said, “Bonjour, Remi Garde speaking. Who am I speaking to and how can I help?” Jheez I sounded like a receptionist myself. A rough, hard-man voice replied, “The boss wants to meet you. He has been less than impressed with the style of football you are playing and wants to discuss some changes. He will arrive at your office in precisely 3 minutes. Meet him at the front and take him into your office immediately.” And that was it. He hung up.
Who the bleeding heck was that? I know for sure it wasn’t Jean-Michel because he has my mobile number but also he wouldn’t have someone speak on his behalf. Crap it had been 2 minutes. I ran to the front to see who was pulling in to the compound and I saw a Rolls Royce Phantom drive in.
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Whoever this was, they had a lot of money. The driver got out and opened the passenger door and out stepped a man who looked the business. He was dressed sharply, wearing sunglasses; a designer suit and he had a flashy walking cane. I opened the door and before I could speak he said, “Remi! It is great to see you. Come, let us go in your office and speak.”
No introduction, no mention of what his name was but he wanted to go to my office just like that? He was off walking towards it and I just jogged and caught up to him. I stuttered and asked, “Excuse moi monsieur, before you go any further I need to know who you are.”
He stopped in his tracks and laughed, “I will explain more once we are inside my friend. Come now I don’t have all day.” I opened my door and walked to my seat. I motioned to this strange man to sit down and I offered him a glass of whiskey. He declined but said he would like a nice cup of tea. I called Francine, my personal assistant, and asked her to bring in two cups of that imported tea that had arrived yesterday.
“Remi, I am Michael, a Dutch…how would you put it? Businessman. I am involved in many different entrepreneurial activities around France and the world. I am a multi-billionaire and make generous donations to my favourite football team, Olympique Lyonnais, which you now have the great honour of managing. I own a private box in the stadium and I orchestrated Jean-Michel Aulas’ takeover bid in the 1980s. As you can tell I have a vested interest in the success of the club and am thrilled you are the manager but there is a problem. The team has not been playing an attacking brand of football, at least not as much as I would like and I want this to change. I took the liberty of creating a new tactic I would like you to try. Obviously it is in your best interests, as well as your family’s interests, for you to take this on board and try it out.”
He drank his tea, left a document on my desk and walked out. I was gobsmacked. Who the hell was this guy to tell me to play a certain way? I looked down at the paper and it really was a tactic with instructions. I had never in my life seen anything like this but then this guy had threatened my family in order for me to play this? I went out to the training pitch and handed it to the coaches there. I told them to get the boys lined up and to start training in this formation. I walked away in disbelief but felt I had to try it. Who knows, maybe it would work.
Impromptu Meeting
I was sitting in my office; leaning back and looking out the window as the youth team were training. They looked good, skilful and quick. I kept a little pad of notes I liked to make about things that were important and decided I would add one today. “Go to youth training tomorrow and go and watch their next match”. I thought it would give the youngsters a bit of motivation to step up but also I could go and do a bit of scouting myself and if there were a couple of players that really impressed, I may look to give them a senior call up.
Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the phone rang and I almost jumped out the window. It was a private number and normally my receptionist is putting callers through. Who was this and how did they get the direct line to my office?? I answered tentatively and said, “Bonjour, Remi Garde speaking. Who am I speaking to and how can I help?” Jheez I sounded like a receptionist myself. A rough, hard-man voice replied, “The boss wants to meet you. He has been less than impressed with the style of football you are playing and wants to discuss some changes. He will arrive at your office in precisely 3 minutes. Meet him at the front and take him into your office immediately.” And that was it. He hung up.
Who the bleeding heck was that? I know for sure it wasn’t Jean-Michel because he has my mobile number but also he wouldn’t have someone speak on his behalf. Crap it had been 2 minutes. I ran to the front to see who was pulling in to the compound and I saw a Rolls Royce Phantom drive in.
Whoever this was, they had a lot of money. The driver got out and opened the passenger door and out stepped a man who looked the business. He was dressed sharply, wearing sunglasses; a designer suit and he had a flashy walking cane. I opened the door and before I could speak he said, “Remi! It is great to see you. Come, let us go in your office and speak.”
No introduction, no mention of what his name was but he wanted to go to my office just like that? He was off walking towards it and I just jogged and caught up to him. I stuttered and asked, “Excuse moi monsieur, before you go any further I need to know who you are.”
He stopped in his tracks and laughed, “I will explain more once we are inside my friend. Come now I don’t have all day.” I opened my door and walked to my seat. I motioned to this strange man to sit down and I offered him a glass of whiskey. He declined but said he would like a nice cup of tea. I called Francine, my personal assistant, and asked her to bring in two cups of that imported tea that had arrived yesterday.
“Remi, I am Michael, a Dutch…how would you put it? Businessman. I am involved in many different entrepreneurial activities around France and the world. I am a multi-billionaire and make generous donations to my favourite football team, Olympique Lyonnais, which you now have the great honour of managing. I own a private box in the stadium and I orchestrated Jean-Michel Aulas’ takeover bid in the 1980s. As you can tell I have a vested interest in the success of the club and am thrilled you are the manager but there is a problem. The team has not been playing an attacking brand of football, at least not as much as I would like and I want this to change. I took the liberty of creating a new tactic I would like you to try. Obviously it is in your best interests, as well as your family’s interests, for you to take this on board and try it out.”
He drank his tea, left a document on my desk and walked out. I was gobsmacked. Who the hell was this guy to tell me to play a certain way? I looked down at the paper and it really was a tactic with instructions. I had never in my life seen anything like this but then this guy had threatened my family in order for me to play this? I went out to the training pitch and handed it to the coaches there. I told them to get the boys lined up and to start training in this formation. I walked away in disbelief but felt I had to try it. Who knows, maybe it would work.
Subs Benzia, Dabo, Briand
GoalsWatt(36), Benzia (84)
