Trained at AS Saint-Etienne where he signed professional as well as other young talents of his generation, Cyril Martin-Pichon (22 years old) made the choice to leave his Stéphane cocoon last winter to find playing time in National 3 with FC Bourgoin-Jallieu, the club of his childhood. For Actufoot, the midfielder looks back on his season and talks about his future … (Photo: FC BJ).
Cyril, you started the season with the Saint-Etienne reserve in N2 and then joined FC Bourgoin-Jallieu this winter. What is your assessment of your season in both jerseys on a collective and individual level?
I did a good preparation last summer with Saint-Etienne then a good month with the reserve even if it was complicated collectively. At one point, the club wanted to play younger players and I was told it was going to be difficult for me to get back on the team. I needed to have playing time and to get my spirits back up, so I signed to Bourgoin who has a coherent sports project. In addition, I arrived at the same time as the new presidents and with the team, we managed to start a good dynamic of victories.
You are even decisive in your first match at Saint-Flour (victory 1-4).
Yes, I’m lucky to score on my first appearance. I’ve also been decisive in two other games so I’m quite happy with these few matches played with Bourgoin. There was a good mood in the group.
Let’s go back to ASSE. You sign professional in 2018 just after Charles Abi, Wesley Fofana or Mahdi Camara. How did it go next?
Football goes quickly in both directions. The summer I sign my contract, I take over with the professional group until the first league game. I even have forty minutes of play against Bordeaux and twenty against Marseille in friendly matches. The coach (Jean-Louis Gasset) was happy with my performances but when the season started again, there was more at stake and less confidence given to the youngsters. Not to mention the CAN returns. So I was demoted to reserve and behind, it was hard to come back up even if I was playing my matches. I missed this milestone.
FC Bourgoin will start a new cycle next year under the leadership of Jérémy Clément and Laurent Rugelj. Do you aspire to play higher from 2020/2021 or the door remains open to continue in Nord-Isère?
I would love to find a challenge in National. The crisis and the end of the season made the transfer window a little complicated even if I had two or three hits with National 2 clubs. I did not follow up because their projects did not necessarily appeal to me. Jérémy (Clement) called me, we talked a lot. We agree that the club will let me go with pleasure if I find a good opportunity for me. If not, I would stay in Bourgoin where I like the project too. The presidents are trying to bring something new to the club and it is good to be able to play the matches in Rajon. If we had a good season next year, we also know that it could open doors for us to go higher.
