Paulo Fonseca refuses to rule out Sporting CP return after Lyon win

Paulo Fonseca says “anything is possible” regarding a return to Sporting CP, but insists he will be with Lyon’s players on Monday after their 2-0 Ligue 1 victory over Angers.

The Portuguese manager is Sporting CP’s leading candidate to replace Rui Borges, according to reports by Flashscore three days ago. Fonseca became emotional at the Groupama Stadium after Corentin Tolisso scored Lyon’s second goal on Sunday, prompting speculation that the match could be his last home game in charge.

Asked about his immediate plans by Ligue 1+, Fonseca said: “Tomorrow I will be here, with the team. For now, there is nothing.”

Explaining his reaction to Tolisso’s goal, he added: “It was an emotional moment when Coco scored the second goal. He came over to celebrate with me. We’ll see” whether the celebration was intended as a message for him to remain at Lyon.

Fonseca admitted that leaving the club was possible, while stressing his strong connection with the squad.

“I really like this group; I think they are wonderful,” he said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the difficulties we are facing.

“What this team has achieved so far is incredible. No one could have imagined that, with all these difficulties, the injuries and the departures, we would be where we are. It’s not an easy time, but we are here doing the work. We are a family.

“That’s why we are getting these results. People need to understand that things are not easy for everyone at the club.”

He also praised Lyon president and Matthieu Louis-Jean, the club’s sporting director, for their work.

“I think the president and Matthieu Louis-Jean, the sporting director, have done a great job, but there also needs to be some understanding, because this is not an easy time,” Fonseca said.

When asked whether he could reject the opportunity to return to his “beloved club”, Sporting CP, he replied: “At the moment, anything is possible.”

Fonseca was then asked whether he would remain at Lyon until the end of the season.

“I don’t know. I really like being here - the club and the staff. It’s difficult to find people like the ones we have at the moment. I don’t know if I will be here in the coming days,” he said.

Asked specifically about leaving during the winter break, Fonseca repeated: “Tomorrow I will be here with the team.”

Tolisso said before his manager that he had no further information about the reports linking Fonseca with Sporting CP.

“I see what is being said in the press; I don’t know any more than you do. The coach hasn’t told us anything,” he said.

“Personally, I want to tell him to stay. We still have great things to achieve. Since he arrived, he has done an extraordinary job. I want to continue working with him. It’s a chance for OL to have a coach like him. He was very emotional.

“I had told myself that if I scored, I would go over to him to celebrate because you never know what tomorrow holds.”