Learning the ropes in Ligue 1 hasn't been easy for Habib Bèye. The Franco-Senegalese coach is still struggling to find his feet in the top flight of French football. His time at Rennes wasn't a disaster, however, as he won 18 matches, drew 7, and lost 16 in 39 games. As a result, the club, which was in 16th place when he arrived, climbed to 6th. An acceptable record.

The incident with Brice Samba in Rennes

What ultimately led to Habib Bèye's departure was not the club's results, but internal tensions. The press had notably reported heated exchanges between Habib Bèye and goalkeeper Brice Samba during Rennes' 3-0 defeat to Marseille in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France.

The French goalkeeper had not taken kindly to a reprimand from his coach after Marseille's second goal.

In a press conference, Habib Bèye attempted to downplay the incident. "It wasn't a clash, it was a coach's instruction, like in any locker room, from one coach to a player, quite simply. When you have a principle of open play, if you play long balls, in fact, the whole team is open. And so, there's a lot of space in the middle. (Monaco's opening goal) is the same (goal) we conceded against Marseille," the Suresnes native stated.

"You can't just go back like that, the others gave it their all."

For the following match against RC Lens, Brice Samba was curiously left out of the squad. This decision was seen as a punishment by most sports commentators.

Habib Bèye unfortunately lost this match against Lens. He was subsequently dismissed. Olympique de Marseille took him on as a replacement for the resigning coach, Roberto De Zerbi.

More than two months after his arrival on the Canebière, there's yet another tense conversation between him and one of his players. This time it's Himad Abdelli who's standing up to him.

The incident took place in the locker room. Habib Bèye, dissatisfied with the Algerian player's performance, criticized him for losing possession on the play that led to Nice's equalizer. "You can't come on like that, the others gave their all. I'm speaking for everyone, not just you..." the coach told Abdelli.

"I don't give a fuck."

Offended, the attacking midfielder retorted: "Don't talk to me like that, you're not my father. I wasn't the only one who came on. I don't give a fuck," the player violently replied.

Given the clashes between Bèye and some of his players, whether at Rennes or OM, one might wonder if the Senegalese coach is having trouble getting respect.

It would never occur to Brice Samba or Abdelli to respond to a criticism from José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, or even Luis Enrique. Is it because Bèye hasn't won anything as a coach yet, or is the problem with his management of the dressing room?

He is sometimes described as being a bit authoritarian about group life, uncompromising on respecting the rules, self-assured in discussion but lacking in listening skills.

Bernardin Patinvoh