How Tigers 'isolated' Loffreda
Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:15
Argentina's highly-rated coach Marcelo Loffreda believes he was "isolated" at Leicester Tigers and was never given the support that would have seen him replicate his international success at club level.
Loffreda, who took Argentina to third place at last year's World Cup - they lost to eventual winners South Africa in the semifinals - and also to third place on the International Rugby Board rankings, was axed last month by the English Premiership club.
Despite taking the Tigers to the finals of both EDF Energy Cup and the Guinness Premiership, Loffreda was shown the door by a club used to silverware in their showcase.
"I always felt the staff's distance," the 49-year-old Loffreda told ole.com.ar.
"They treated me always correctly, but never warm. I was very alone, isolated.
"I think that one of my mistakes was not having my own work team composed by Argentinians or foreigners. People trustworthy.
"Leicester's staff asked me to do a report about my months with the team and also with my expectations about the next ones.
"I delivered it on Thursday at 19.00, we had a meeting on Friday at 10.00 and they told me then that the contract reached an end.
"I need to rest now. I went to England as soon as the World Cup ended. I need to relax."
