Lyon consulted Guardiola before choosing Carlos Vicens

Lyon spoke with Pep Guardiola while pursuing Carlos Vicens, Gerliger said. “When you talk to Guardiola, it’s mostly a monologue,” he said, while describing the exchange as very positive: Guardiola had told him about working with Vicens and advised him to continue negotiations. Lyon announced the Spaniard’s appointment on Monday, and Vicens led his first training session on Tuesday before speaking to the media.

A former member of Manchester City’s coaching staff under Guardiola, Vicens reflected on that experience and set a high target: qualifying Lyon for the Champions League. He also said the team would not neglect its other competitions. “We will have to do well in the Coupe de France and the Europa League, where we can finish in the top eight,” he said.

The coach also stressed the importance of the team’s style of play and its relationship with supporters. “I like attacking football, teams that press high and play with personality,” he said, adding that Guardiola had passed on to him a constant desire to improve. Lyon described the appointment as a way to maintain continuity in its sporting project, saying Vicens’s approach, demands and emphasis on player development matched the club’s direction.

Vicens acknowledged the difficulty of taking charge midway through a season, with Lyon having been on a good run before Paolo Fonseca left for Sporting de Portugal. Appointed for the remainder of the current season and the following one, he said: “We will continue with the same style.” After coaching Braga from May 2025 to October 2026, he is set for his second spell as head coach of a professional team. Aged 43, he had previously worked on Manchester City’s staff, focusing on set pieces. The club scored 21 goals and conceded one from such situations.