Former Olympique Marseille midfielder Abdelaziz Barrada has taken aim at Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Bielsa is being celebrated in England, having led Leeds United back to the Premier League and pushing title holders Liverpool all the way for Saturday's season kickoff at Anfield. Leeds eventually lost 4-3, but only after an impressive showing against the defending champions.
However in France, particularly in Marselle, Bielsa's reputation has taken a hit over his time with Olympique Marseille. The Argentine lasted one season and one game with OM, resigning after the opening match of the 2015/16 season citing conflicts with the club amid claims of changes to his contract.
Barrada, now with US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, admits he didn't get along with the Argentine when they were together at OM.
He recalled to RMC via Le 10 Sport: "For 3-4 days, there was no discussion. I found him distant. I'm wondering. It was I who took the first step towards him to go talk to him, which is a bit strange.
"You walk past him in the morning and there isn't even a 'hello'. When he's in the same elevator as a French international, Steve Mandanda, and there's not even a 'hello' between the two, it lacks diplomacy. There needs to be a human relationship between a player and a coach and that was not the case.
"It hasn't been the best time of my career. He had his way of doing things that I didn't like too much. We finished fourth. Personally, I don't have a good memory of him. Some players whose names I will not mention disagreed with him. He had his players and a group. From Tuesday, we already knew who was going to play the weekend..."
Barrada, also known as Abdel, would stay another year after Bielsa's resignation before eventually leaving for Al Nasr. A Morocco international, Abdel - now 31 - is playing in the fourth tier of France's football pyramid with Lusitanos Saint-Maur.
- updated September 14
