Paulo Fonseca has been suspended from coaching Lyon from the sidelines due to a ban. This suspension has made his job so difficult that Fonseca admitted he regrets taking the Lyon job immediately after being sacked by AC Milan.

Fonseca has appealed his lengthy suspension, but the 9-month ban appears likely to stand. The Portuguese coach claims he was politically targeted and that his suspension is unfair.

In an interview with French publication L’Équipe, Fonseca said for the first time that he should have taken a break after being fired by AC Milan instead of immediately accepting the Lyon job. Fonseca was sacked by Milan on New Year’s Eve and took over at Lyon one month later.

Fonseca’s team faces Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight. The first leg in France ended 2-2. Fonseca, suspended for insulting and physically confronting a referee in Ligue 1, told L’Équipe: “Milan sacked me mid-season, which was the first time I’d been fired during a season. I didn’t rest at all and went straight to Lyon. Maybe I should have rested. You wouldn’t believe how much pressure coaching Milan puts on a person. It’s unbelievable. I should have rested after Milan. If I’d rested properly, maybe that confrontation wouldn’t have happened. Though I’m not one to make excuses.”

Fonseca’s suspension only applies in Ligue 1, so he will be on Lyon’s bench tonight at Old Trafford. His team has a chance to reach the Europa League semifinals by defeating Manchester United. This success could solidify Fonseca’s position at Lyon.