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Lyon coach Hubert Fournier has dismissed speculation of possible rifts within the club, amid reports of disagreements with his chairman Jean-Michel Aulas and playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. It has been a turbulent few weeks at Les Gones, going back to late February when Aulas reportedly retweeted a supporter's social media post criticising the decision to bench Gourcuff during their 2-1 defeat to Lille. Things appeared to worsen last week when Gourcuff took the decision to substitute himself against Nice, as the player walked off the pitch without notice after 48 minutes of a 2-1 home loss. Meanwhile, Lyon on Tuesday had to formally reject a France Football news article claiming there was a disagreement between Aulas and Fournier over the latter's contract. And in a news conference on Friday published on Lyon's website, Fournier said: "I have no problem whatsoever with my technical staff or anyone from the management team. "I have no problem with Yoann Gourcuff. Yes, [the self-substitution] surprised me against Nice, but we had the week to talk about it, and the incident is closed "My relationship with Jean-Michel Aulas is very good. There is no question of my salary in our discussions. I do not see where these statements... We are second in the championship and I know that this is part of the inconvenience that we may suffer when we make others envious." Gourcuff is currently sidelined with the hamstring injury he picked up against Nice, and while the initial assessment was for him to be out for a month, Fournier admits the wait could be longer. "Of course we hope for his return before the end of the season," Fournier said. "Unfortunately, since it is a relapse, it could be that his absence is a little longer. We are following his injury vigilantly. "If Yoann had warned us of his injury, it would have been a mistake on our part if we had let him stay on the field."
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