Invited to Génération After this Monday evening, Gaël Clichy discussed his arrival as manager of SM Caen, a National league club. The former French international admitted that he hadn't met Kylian Mbappé, but rather a member of his family.

Changes on the Caen bench. Maxime d'Ornano, in charge since the start of the season, was dismissed by the Normandy club on Monday, after a disappointing 10th place in the National league after 16 matches.

To replace him, Gaël Clichy, former Arsenal and Manchester City player, assistant coach to Thierry Henry notably during the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. "The recruitment process was long and meticulous on their part and I liked that. It took a long time, it was over a few weeks," said the former player with 20 caps for the French national team, a guest on Génération After this Monday evening on RMC.

"I gave them two names of coaches I'd like to add to the staff. Only one of the two has been approved, and it will be a great complement to what's already there." That name is Marvin Esor, until now coach of FC Bassin d'Arcachon, a National 3 team, and currently assistant to Gaël Clichy at Caen.

"I have not met or spoken with Kylian Mbappé"

"No, I haven't spoken to or met Kylian Mbappé at all. I met a member of his family, but I mainly met the people who will be with me on a daily basis," explained Gaël Clichy on the RMC radio program Génération After. "They made me feel comfortable, and the objectives aligned quite quickly. I feel supported, and with discipline and high standards, we'll achieve something," declared the new Stade Malherbe coach.

"In any case, a club like Caen with the structure that exists around the club is fantastic," the former Manchester City defender concluded.

Gaël Clichy will take charge of SM Caen for the first time in their away match against Concarneau on January 16th, for the 17th matchday of the National league. While Caen haven't lost a league game since October 17th, they have drawn four of their last five matches.

The Normans were also eliminated very early in the Coupe de France by the minnows of Bayeux, playing in R1 and now raised to the 1/16th round against OM.