Corentin Tolisso (32) didn’t need to say a word for everyone to realise how much he cared for Paulo Fonseca, his now former manager. But that didn’t stop the Olympique Lyonnais captain – who scored yesterday in the 1-1 draw away at Real Sociedad – from giving his views on the Portuguese manager’s unexpected departure.

Whilst in the mixed zone, the midfielder revealed that he had been “moved” to see Fonseca leave OL and “a little disappointed” by the way he had gone about it, Tolisso nevertheless made a point of paying tribute to him.

“He was a manager whom I held in high regard and still hold in very high regard. He did the club a world of good,” acknowledged the 32-year-old, who “can understand” Fonseca’s decision to join Sporting CP, the club he supports.

“If OL had called on me and I’d been at another club, I’d have left too,” Tolisso agreed. “But then there’s the timing, everything we’d put in place with him, his talks… And in the end, he’s just leaving like that. […] I wanted him to stay; he really is an exceptional manager – I’ve already told him that. Now, nothing takes precedence over the OL organisation. He’s gone, he’s made his choice, and we have to move on.”