‘He’s 100% with us’ – Kadidiatou Diani rejects Hervé Renard criticism

Kadidiatou Diani (29) has refuted the idea that Hervé Renard is not fully committed to the France national team ahead of his planned departure after this summer’s Olympics.

The manager has made it clear across multiple outlets that he has no intention of extending his contract with the French Football Federation past his finishing date and would welcome a return to men’s football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Renard has commented that he had been clear that this was always going to be a short term, and he had previously discussed with the Federation that he was only planning on staying with the team until the end of his contract.

Despite this, there were hints in some of his comments that he was frustrated with the Federation’s refusal to allow him to be loaned out to the Ivory Coast during this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and has suggested that since that point “the snipers were aimed” at him.

These remarks have raised some questions about Renard’s commitment and respect for the role, and a suggestion that he has constantly had one eye on the exit. A point that Diani rejects in an interview with AFP.

The France and Olympique Lyonnais striker states “When he arrived, we already knew that he and his staff were there for a short period, but he put things in place and he did things really well.” She continued, “We will continue to work together for the last competition, the Olympic Games.”

On the Ivory Coast situation, Diani was nonplussed, “It can look strange on the outside, but personally, I didn’t pay attention to it. Those were his choices, he asked for it, and he [when it was rejected] he accepted it. When he’s with us, he’s 100% with us, that’s the most important thing, and that’s what I remember.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland