“What is the state of your group before the reception in Nantes?”
We are waiting for the last training for Riyadh (Boudebouz), and Aïmen (Moueffek) also, who was affected in the Coupe de France. For (Yvan) Neyou we are also waiting, but it seems to be going. What good news.
How do you feel about the group?
It is a continuation of what it has been since we arrived, and certainly of what it was before we got here. Since the start of the season, I have rarely seen the Stéphanois give up. Morally, they are there, they have to face their responsibilities, they want to assume.
“It seems that I am one of the specialists in somewhat special, complex, not obvious operations. It’s my karma, that’s how it is ”
After a week in this post of coach of the Greens, does the mission seem more complicated to you than it seemed?
It is not complicated, it is exhilarating. There is the factual which is the classification. But if we could focus only on the field, by getting rid of the standings, by only working on our strengths, I would see that in a good light. We start to doubt when we think it’s over soon, when we are about to pass away.
I don’t have the impression that the players, through their attitudes, are walking dead or standing dead. But I want it to be starved to death. We must offer fewer goals, it concerns everyone to defend well. Attacking well is the same. It is my mission, in addition to that of de-dramatizing the situation. There are still 60 points to be gleaned, we have to perform. I made the accounts, we have 12 points, we will have 10 points given by the supporters, and to go to 40, there are still some to be taken. We intend to take them.
It’s a long job, the 40 we won’t have them tomorrow evening. But since I was little, I never saw the worst. A glass that is half full allows me to quench my thirst, it is not half empty.
You have met the fan groups. How did it happen ?
We saw the supporters, there are only two groups that we have not yet seen. It went very well, they expressed their desires, their will, their dreams to me too. But when I am told about the past, I didn’t have an impact on it, so I can’t say anything. I just know that the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is legendary. When I came to play with the teams I coached, the supporters were well against the visiting team, had a good influence on the referee, were completely behind their team.
I hope to live it, but that depends on the attitude developed by the players, it’s my responsibility. I told them my pride, my honor, to defend the colors of Saint-Etienne. If ASSE played for the title, ASSE wouldn’t have thought of me. But the club is last after 18 matches, it seems that I am one of the specialists in somewhat special, complex, not obvious operations. It’s my karma, that’s how it is. I won’t change my life.
“My players have quality, they seem to me to be disciplined, courageous, I want to see them happy”
Marcus Coco said it was a good time to play Saint-Etienne. What do you think ?
I don’t care what Marcus Coco says. He has the right to say what he wants. My debate is that there will be a real match against Nantes. The Stéphanois are ready to challenge the people of Nantes, we will be there. My players have quality, they seem to me to be disciplined, courageous, I want to see them happy. I want them to develop an attitude that suits their young age, which combines carelessness and responsibility.
CAN is approaching. Are you ready to do everything to keep certain elements likely to play it?
There are boys who we did not need to ask and who remain, who were selectable and who decided to stay at AS Saint-Etienne to get the club out of the rut. That does not mean that those who go to CAN are lost for good. It’s a choice. (Mahdi) Camara, he’s been in discussion with management for several years, he told us he preferred to stay with his club rather than be selected.(with Gambia). It is for this reason that he is not called.
It’s a very good attitude, it shows that there are boys who want to fight for this club, who have not lost to see him stay in Ligue 1. (Zaydou) Youssouf (Comoros) also wants to stay with his club. “