Speaking to L’Équipe in his first interview since being sacked as manager of ESTAC Troyes on 8th November, Bruno Irles has revealed disagreements with the City Group hierarchy over the imposition of Manchester City’s play style, which he believed was ill-suited to the realities of Ligue 1.
Irles revealed that he was “angry” and “sad” after being sacked by Troyes in November. At the time, the Aubois club were 13th in Ligue 1 and were on a six-game winless run, however, four of those matches ended in draws. Their decision to sack the former Quevilly-Rouen manager hasn’t paid dividends. His replacement, Patrick Kisnorbo, who was brought over from Melbourne City, another team within the City Group project, has only secured one win in 20 Ligue 1 games, and they have only earned eight points during his tenure. The club are 19th in Ligue 1, and their relegation to Ligue 2 has been confirmed.
In an interview with L’Équipe, Irles revealed that disagreements with the City Group hierarchy regarding Troyes’ playing style likely played a role in his sacking. “For the management, the sporting project had to go more quickly towards the City project. There was a difference in points of view. I was convinced that it was incompatible with this team in Ligue 1,” he said.
Irles believes that the club’s results since his departure prove this incompatibility. “Today, we can’t say that we’re watching Manchester City (when we’re watching Troyes) or that we’re exploiting the maximum potential from the players. It proves me right. This relegation to Ligue 2 is a crushing failure,” said the Frenchman, who is still out of work.
He also opened up about his relationship with Brian Marwood (Director of Football at the City Football Group), which he described as “cordial and constructive.”
“I had a weekly relationship with Brian Marwood and it was cordial and constructive. At no moment did they expect a radical change in my sporting project. They are aware that staying up is important because there is even an impact on the City Group by not being in Ligue 1. Even if they confirmed my sacking, I didn’t feel abandoned by the Group during the 11 months. For me, the sacking was initiated internally at ESTAC, and not by the City Group,” he said.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
