Clermont manager Corinne Diacre calls for calm before first game

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/04/clermont-coach-corinne-diacre-calm

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The Clermont Foot manager Corinne Diacre says she is doing her best to remain calm before her first game in charge. Diacre will become the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in a competitive match in a major European country when her second division side face Brest on Monday evening.

“There will be some excitement but I’m trying not to get polluted by that,” the 40-year-old said. “I’m trying to maintain my focus as much as possible and to stay as much in the shadows as possible because what interests me is that my players take the limelight, not me.”

Diacre replaced Helena Costa, who quit after claiming male colleagues sidelined her and used her as a “face” to attract publicity. “I think all this interest is over the top with regards to my presence. What I’d like is for us to concentrate on Clermont,” she said.