BRONX, N.Y. — Rumors linking Remi Garde to Olympique Lyonnais continue to persist, with French media channel C News saying on Friday the Montreal Impact coach is being considered for a return to the Ligue 1 side.
Garde said he understands why he’d be linked with Lyon. After all, he played there from 1987-93 and coached the team from 2011-14, winning the 2012 Coupe de France (French Cup) and went on to hoist the Trophee des Champions (French Super Cup) later that year.
“I’ve spent so [much] time, so many years in that club that maybe people talk,” Garde said after the Impact played New York City FC to a 0-0 draw at Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon. “But I’m just focused on what I have to do and I already spoke about that.”
When asked if he’s been contacted by Lyon, Garde’s simple response was, “No.”
The Frenchman also denied a connection a month ago when Montreal-based journalist Arcadio Marcuzzi, while appearing on the IMFCRadio show, said Garde could be a summer target for the club.
“On my side, I deny all recent contacts with Lyon on the subject that was brought up,” Garde said in March. “I have the feeling that this was piece of information that was created from nothing.”
As for the Impact, Garde said he was pleased to leave Yankee Stadium with a point especially coming off a 7-1 drubbing in Sporting Kansas City last week.
Despite being without the injured Ignacio Piatti and playing the final 20 minutes down a man after Maxi Urruti’s sending off, the Impact showed a better mentality in the Bronx.
“Undoubtedly it’s a good point for us,” Garde said. “Coming from last week where we were and the kind of game we had, I think today was a much better team performance, a defensive one. Tactically, I think we were much [more] organized and disciplined, but also in terms of mentality, desire to work for each other, I think we put the level much higher.”
