Last in Ligue 1 with ten points after 26 days, Angers is on the verge of relegation. Before the Toulouse reception this Sunday (3 p.m.), Pierrick Capelle is sounding the alarm.
Pierrick Capelle, how are you after this new nightmare week?
I’m alright. My children and my wife are doing well. They are in good health. Otherwise, on the sporting level, we are in a very complicated situation. We know it. There is nothing new but there are 12 games left. The question is: what do we do with these 12 matches? I had a discussion with Alexandre (Dujeux assistant coach who will be on the bench on Sunday). We spoke to the band this morning and asked them. What do we do with these 12 games? We continue to be… (he tries to find his words) ashamed on the pitch because it’s a shame what we show. Or do we react and show that we are professional. So. The questions are asked and we will see if we have an answer on Sunday.
Behaving like a professional, shouldn’t it be obvious?
Yes, it’s obvious to me, but there is nevertheless a need to make a big adjustment to be exemplary in the field. I’m not saying we’re going to win these 12 games, but at least let’s be worthy on the pitch.
How did you react to the chat in the Montpellier locker room with Abdel Bouhazama? There too, was the shame there? Were you shocked?
I was… arrested. Afterwards, these are things that come out of the field. It’s been discussed enough. I will not comment on that. It’s not easy to concentrate on football. It’s a club where we used to be quite calm. There wasn’t much going on around.
Having trouble recognizing this club?
Yes, the climate has totally changed compared to my arrival in 2015. It has completely changed. This is the story of a club. There are others who have been in difficulty before us. It’s the life of football.
With your terrible situation in the standings, after this 5-0 slap in Montpellier, what importance still has this match against Toulouse?
It is our pride, our status and our duty. There, we simply have to show that we have our place on a Ligue 1 pitch. I am thinking of all the footballers in France who are amateurs. I have been. I watched Ligue 1, Ligue 2 with wide eyes. Today, these guys, they can criticize us and say that we don’t belong here because it’s a shame what we show it. I want to do honor to the job so it has to happen on Sunday.
There is a lot of suffering around the club. The supporters call to demonstrate before the match to be heard by the management. Do you understand them?
The message I want to convey to them is that they have known me for eight years that I have been here. Me, I can assure that I will stay in my guideline which is not to let go. I still have this slab in me and they have to understand that we have a share of responsibility but not that… We understand them and it is normal for the supporters to be angry with everything that is happening. The goal is not to go to war. I get a lot of messages from sad supporters. I’ve always had a little word but now I don’t know what to answer them because I’m ashamed. I know they like the SCO, so yeah it’s hard.
