NYCFC coach Vieira calls reports of Ligue 1 interest 'wrong information'

Patrick Vieira was in France over the weekend - just not for the reason some Ligue 1 fans hoped.

New York City FC's coach was reportedly the subject of interest from two French clubs over the weekend, with Nantes and Nice looking to replace managers Claudio Ranieri and Lucien Favre, respectively. But while Vieira did travel overseas, he said it was due to a family matter, and assured fans of his MLS side that he's not planning on leaving.

"It makes me smile, because of course there's no contract being signed or anything like that," Vieira said Tuesday, according to Dylan Butler of MLSSoccer.com. "This is the wrong information. I'm here, like always.

"I'm really happy. I really enjoy my work, I really enjoy being part of this football club."

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The former Arsenal midfielder is overseeing his first managerial stint at a senior side after working with Manchester City's reserves from 2013-15 following a playing career that spanned nearly three decades.

While he also publicly denied being involved in Arsenal's search for Arsene Wenger's successor - now said to be former Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery - Vieira insists he's currently only thinking of New York.

"That situation is the same for me," Vieira said. "Things that I can control are being here, having my head, my energy to this football club and then everything going out is out of my hands.

"I can't control what's going on in France, what's going on England or what's going on anywhere else. I have a fantastic relationship with the people of this football club. We've always been clear with each other. For me this is the most important."