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Passi: I'm no Bielsa stopgap

Benoit Tissier / Reuters

Camphin-en-Pevele - New Lille coach Franck Passi insisted he is not simply filling a gap for ex-Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa as he held his first press conference on Wednesday.

Passi has signed a four-month contract to the end of the season as Lille looks to stave off relegation, having been led by caretaker Patrick Collot since sacking Frederic Antonetti in Nov. 2016.

Related: Passi set to take reins from caretaker Collot at struggling Lille

French press reports claim "El Loco" Bielsa has signed a deal to coach the 2011 champion from next season.

Lille is 17th in Ligue 1, just a point above the relegation zone with 13 matches left after a third straight defeat at the weekend.

Passi was assistant coach under Bielsa at Marseille and took over after the Argentine walked out in Aug. 2015. He was sacked from that post earlier this season.

Although Passi said the two are friends, he denied he's merely a stopgap as Lille waits to hire Bielsa.

"I speak often with Marcelo, everyone knows my relationship with him," said Passi.

"With respect to my 13 matches, Marcelo plays no role. Yes, I called Marcelo to tell him (he'd been hired) because it was important to be sincere.

"I've chosen to be Lille coach from now until the end of the season. After that, I'll decide my future from June 30 onwards."

He insisted he was no stand-in.

"You're the ones reducing it to that," Passi told journalists.

"Me, all I know is that I have a mission, 13 matches, 13 finals to keep Lille up."

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