Mickaël Landreau calls Guendouzi a perpetual provocateur

Mickaël Landreau has once again publicly criticised Mattéo Guendouzi, calling the midfielder a perpetual provocateur and saying his behaviour is “very, very hard” for any collective. The former FC Nantes and France “Bleus” goalkeeper recalled his 2020 remarks and added that the recent Champions League incident only confirms his view.

Landreau first worked with Guendouzi while on the bench at FC Lorient between 2017 and 2019, overseeing the youngster when he was just 18. The former Merlus coach said the experience left a lasting impression of the player's difficult temperament.

Landreau's earlier stint at Lorient

En 2020, during a Canal+ analysis of a France Espoirs match, Landreau described Guendouzi as “very complicated to manage”, adding that his “ego is oversized” and that his conduct sometimes strains the collective. Those comments were made while Landreau was still a respected voice among the Bleus.

Guendouzi's recent Champions League fallout

On Wednesday evening at the Groupama Stadium, Guendouzi – now a midfielder for Fenerbahçe after spells at Olympique Marseille, Arsenal, Hertha Berlin, Lazio and the Phocéens – was booed and insulted by Olympique Lyonnais supporters during the Champions League second‑leg. He reacted to the final whistle by taunting the crowd for several minutes, prompting a near pitch invasion and a brawl in the corridor leading to the dressing rooms.

Landreau brands Guendouzi a perpetual provocateur after Lyon clash

Speaking on the Late Football Club set, Landreau said, “Since he was young he lives in permanent provocation. Frankly, it is unbearable to manage him. In every club he stays only a year or two, and everyone is fed up. Some say he is nice, but when he is not a starter he creates trouble in training with his own teammates. Humanly, it is complex, the supporters are another matter.”

Guendouzi was 18 when he first trained under Landreau at Lorient; he is now 27 and has earned 16 caps for the France senior team since 2021.

Born in Poissy, the French international progressed through the PSG youth system before completing his formation at Lorient. He later spent two seasons with the Phocéens, then three years at Lazio in Rome, and also featured for Arsenal, Hertha Berlin, Olympique Marseille and currently Fenerbahçe.