I know some people like to insist that P/C's success has been bought and paid for by Gailhaguet, but it seems very clear to me that they've succeeded in spite of him, not because of him.
They owe him nothing.
They must be respectful because he sits on the money but when he talks BS, they spend their time debunking what he just said to the french media.
When he complained about the "canadian judge", Nathalie and them explained how a judging panel works and if there is an advantage of having a judge on the jury, it works both ways. Guillaume ended by a "sometimes, there is also a french judge, you know ?"
When Gailhaguet said they have a style problem, surprised Gabriella answered : "I don't really understand. We shall have a conversation with him, if there must be a conversation." which sums up their relationship.
They keep him at arm's length. And he can't stand that.
Gailhaguet is an opportunist.
He prides himself as being THE LUCID ONE.
But what he does is occupy the scene and use a lucid argument to push his agenda.
For example, what he said about P/C style.
Right now, everyone is thinking : "oh, how horrible, how dare he ! he's the worst ! blabla"
That doesn't bother him because being loved is not what matters to him.
But think about it. A lot of people actually think that P/C need to evolve (in the future).
The litteral meaning of what he is saying is actually lucid for P/C's career, even if the timing and the implications seem wrong.
One can say : "yes, this may be lucid but how can he be so wrong/obnoxious on the timing".
He's perfectly right on the timing. His timing.
Now every top ice dance coach know that P/C may be "on the market" by April and can enter talks with Gailahguet/ have the time to put together a ready-made offer that Gailhaguet will push toward them.
And in the future, whatever happens, he will be able to say : "I was lucid then. Before everyone else. I was right. Against everybody. Listen to me because I know."
If P/C stay in Montréal and don't evolve enough, he will be able to say :"they didn't listen to me and now the judges love them less. Told you. Do as I say, now."
If P/C stay in Montréal and evolve enough, he will be able to say : "they listened to me, that's why they are winning. I'm the wise guy."
If P/C leave, he will be able to say : "they listened to me, I organized everything"
At the same time, he puts P/C under pressure.
Gailhaguet is going to have the whole french tour to twist their a... convice them to do what he wants as he sits comfortably over the money for their training (ISU prize money, fed's money, permission for doing galas ...)
And for little skaters' parents, or for young athletes who are not ferociously independant-minded like P/C, this is a huge argument for listening to someone whose voice seems the most lucid. Who do you want to listen to ? The nice guy ? Or the guy who is able to tell you the truth, even the brutal truth on how your kid can make it to the top ?
It's also part of his image to get elected by club presidents. "You may not love me, but I do the job and I say things when they need to be said. I know my federation inside out, I know international figure skating inside out. Nobody else can pretend to my level of know-how so I'm THE guy."
Gailhaguet is not silly. He doesn't go outrageous to get panned by every media (french media who don't follow figure skating first published raw Gailhaguet's declarations from the AFP's press dispatch without analysis but now that they are getting analysed, he is getting panned ; on twitter, several journalists are crucifying Gailhaguet), or any social media.
He knows what he is doing and that he will get the result he wanted : show that he is at the center of the game and what bigger stage than the Games.
For him, in any case, it's a win.
Quality of element way superior.
