TARGET
Newcastle target Lucien Favre wants his players to suffer in training and demanded Nice sell Allan Saint-Maximin after first session but winger has since fired back at reports – ‘A happy fart never comes from a miserable ass’
Lucien Favre brought the best out of Jadon Sancho, gave Marc-Andre ter Stegen his top-flight debut and tamed Mario Balotelli.
The Swiss coach has already turned clubs in Germany into European contenders and may now have the chance to do the same at Newcastle.
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Favre has been named as one of the front-runners to replace Steve Bruce on Tyneside after the Magpies announced Bruce had left by mutual consent.
The Saudi Arabia-backed consortium, backed by Amanda Staveley, have ambitions of turning the club into one of Europe's elite.
Favre has emerged as Newcastle's favourite for the job considering his track record transforming under-performing sides in the Bundesliga.
The 63-year-old guided Hertha Berlin from 12th to fourth within two seasons of taking over, while Borussia Monchengladbach were bottom of the league when he took charge in 2011.
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Under Favre, Die Fohlen avoided relegation, witnessed the emergence of Marco Reus and qualified for the early stages of the Champions League the following campaign.
In both of his full seasons at Dortmund, he secured second-place behind Bayern Munich but much has been made of how his time at the club ended.
Favre dropped Sancho for reporting late back from England duty before a downturn in form and a criticism of his tactics put him on the brink.
Just weeks before he was sacked, BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke hinted at his exit by saying: "A happy fart never comes from a miserable ass."
However, there can be no denying Favre has delivered instant success everywhere he has gone - a key demand for Newcastle's new owners.
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But the ex-midfielder may have a few demands of his own in forming his own squad, having once even vetoed Dortmund’s planned signing of Stephan Lichtsteiner before he officially took charge.
Favre went on to assemble an incredibly exciting team of young players in Sancho, Erling Haaland, Giovanni Reyna, Jude Bellingham, and Reinier.
With Newcastle's new limitless budget, higher-profile names Aaron Ramsey and Philippe Coutinho have been linked as being the first new signings.
But any player who arrives at St James Park under Favre "have to be ready to suffer in training", as the man himself
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A host of Newcastle's current stars will also be cleared out under a new manager yet Allan Saint-Maximin is definitely one the fans want to stay.
Unfortunately for the Toon faithful, it was claimed that the French attacker doesn't have the best relationship with managerial target Favre.
The pair worked together at Nice, with Favre reportedly enraged by Saint-Maximin's behaviour during the winger's first session at the club.
claim the Swiss coach stormed up to the president's office after training to demand that he was sold due to his lack of 'tactical intelligence'.
Favre was also said to have been frustrated by Saint-Maximin’s desire to dribble over developing his end-product, according to the report.
Get French Football News shared a similar anecdote and tweeted it out with the caption: "Lucien Favre does not like Allan Saint Maximin at all."
The post caught Saint-Maximin's attention who sarcastically responded: "You got me! You guys are so reliable!"
Saint-Maximin pouring cold water on any friction between him and Favre removes any blot on the latter's repuation as an excellent man-manager.
Reus, who has worked under him twice, said: “I’ve had quite a few club coaches. And among them he is probably the best I’ve ever had.”
Another, Mario Balotelli, who is notorious for falling out with his coaches, enjoyed a career revival under Favre in France.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker told : “He made me much better, especially tactically. Before, I worked on instinct.
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“I discovered a great coach. He is very good tactically, but also in the way he manages the locker room.”
Favre, , seems a good fit for Newcastle fans who now finally have something to cheer about.
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