“FC Metz really has reserve”

Is this derby a special match for you?

“It is important in the sense that there are points to be taken. Whether it’s a derby doesn’t change much to our situation. We would have liked to take points in Lyon, against Brest, Reims, Dijon… We did not do it, so we will do everything to take some in Metz. I understand the particular connotation, but it is above all the points to take that are important. “

Are you surprised by the success of FC Metz this season?

“It’s the story of a championship. If we are not higher, it is because we deserve that place and if they are higher, they deserve it too. I have no received ideas at the start of a season about other teams. Sometimes well-known clubs that are disappointing and others, less famous, which are ahead. After 24 days, you cannot be in front or behind by chance. Objective reasons explain the performance of a team. “

Which ones?

“They found a definitive organization in the first leg. They started playing five behind and have been left with three center-backs since. They perform like that. They are also offensively in the sense that they are quite efficient and they are athletic on top of that. These are the elements to be efficient. “

Metz also overcame the departure of Diallo and the injury of Niane …

“Habib Diallo was in the market from the start. If they allowed themselves to do it, it was because they had solutions in store and even if you have a solution, you know it may not work. That means they had other solutions and that’s what happened. Without Diallo or Niane, this team performs thanks to a well-oiled collective game. I salute the work of Fred Antonetti because he made a big machine out of it. He has players with different profiles: little Gueye who was in Pau, Boulaya who is setting up as an L1 player, little Sarr now … They really have reserve. “

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“Everything to please me”

You seem to admire the work of your colleague.

“He’s been doing a good job for a long time and he has a good analysis every time. Even when he was a consultant. He tells it like it is. Some go more in the direction of the wind, this is not the case. It was always rewarding, I shared a lot of his ideas and it is clear that, since he took over the race, the team is in full swing. Immediately, he knew how to bring his paw. There you go, it’s a CV. It always worked where it went. It proves the competence of the person. And humanly, he’s someone who seems right to me. Everything to please me. “

Do you count on the return to Metz of Diallo finds Metz while he has been silent for five games

“This match can be a trigger for him, but you should not always isolate people. It is a collective problem. Its future success will depend on its partners. And if you watch the games, he still has situations. This is the goal scorers problem. At times, they do not have the desired success. That doesn’t mean he doubts, it’s not his style. “

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