I have a big ankle sprain, it’s a little less serious than expected. I do not yet know the duration of unavailability, we will see from day to day. Once I realized that I couldn’t finish the game in Valenciennes, I immediately understood that I won’t be playing in Pau. It’s frustrating…
I have a big ankle sprain, it’s a little less serious than expected. I do not yet know the duration of unavailability, we will see from day to day. Once I realized that I couldn’t finish the game in Valenciennes, I immediately understood that I won’t be playing in Pau. It’s a frustration, I was waiting for this match to see my former teammates, the supporters.
It’s a real setback after a good start.
The adaptation went rather well individually, after there were no results until Tuesday evening (5-0 victory against Bastia, editor’s note). I have acclimatized well, the game system suits me. I’m not used to being injured so it clearly pisses me off.
Going from Pau FC to a giant like AS Saint-Etienne is a big leap forward. How do you manage this madness around the Greens?
It was the goal. Arriving in Pau, speaking with Joel (Lopez), Pau FC was to serve as a springboard for me. He gave me exposure that I had never had elsewhere. Saint-Etienne is not “the top”, because they are in Ligue 2, but, for any player who starts football, playing in this club is a dream. Here, everything is tenfold.
Looking at some comments on social networks, we feel that you have already won the hearts of Saint-Etienne supporters.
At first I think they didn’t know me, so I couldn’t disappoint them, they had no expectations. It’s nice to see that they are behind me, that they recognize the work I do on the pitch. I had spoken a little about it with Didier Tholot before signing here, as he is someone from the region, he told me that my game profile, the fact of running, of not giving up, that corresponded to their mentality and that it could only match.
ASSE
Arriving in Pau, speaking with Joel, Pau FC was to serve as a springboard for me. He gave me exposure that I had never had elsewhere.
Basically, your goal was Ligue 1, in the end you are still in Ligue 2.
Above all, I wanted to play for a club that would continue to help me progress. Ligue 1 was a little delayed, there were interests but it was not more concrete than that. Sainté has arrived, it’s from Ligue 2 but it has everything of a Ligue 1 club, in terms of history, supporters, facilities. There are very few Ligue 1 clubs that can compete against here.
When did you make the decision to leave Pau?
At the end of the season, once the maintenance was in place, I already had proposals. I quickly told the coach that my priority was not to stay even if I was well in Pau, I had playing time. We quickly agreed, there was no resentment, on the contrary the coach and Joël advised me. That’s why I called them when signing.
What do you remember from these two years in Pau?
Only positive. Even if the first year it was difficult at first, but it allowed us to forge very strong links. It did me good to live this collective adventure, we had fun and I hope that people also had fun watching us play, with a super cool enthusiasm in Pau. I made friends, again this week, I had Antoine (Batisse) on the phone after his injury.
How do you view the start of the season for the two teams?
I have the impression that our season is launched after this victory in style. For Pau, it was complicated but they came out of a good draw against a very good team. We know the values of the coach and the Pau workforce, it’s a team that will never let go. I hope this point will allow them to start their season.
