Football: how Rodez took control of his destiny

“It was long, long, long to come this one, damn! We’ve been waiting for it for a long time. It’s sometimes improbable.” Like ending a series of 18 games without a win, including nine defeats, and taking control of your destiny in the race to maintain against the leader, Toulouse (1-0). When he comes to Rodez on a Monday evening, after six successes over the last seven days, to try to secure the title with ten of the eleven players from his standard team, in a derby…

“Improbable” for the coach of Raf Laurent Peyrelade, “incredible” for his left piston Johann Obiang or even “a big, big relief” for the middle of the same corridor Nassim Ouammou. “Because psychologically, this period without winning was very difficult to live with, confided the Stéphanois in the corridors of Paul-Lignon. We overcame this ordeal by showing that we did not let go.”

Because this time, blood and gold have put the canes from end to end. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi admitted: “Lately, we’ve been running out of slabs at times.” “We had been doing half-matches for several weeks, abounded Johann Obiang in a press conference. In terms of concentration, intensity and defensive withdrawal, we could get a result. When you play your survival, you have to know how to suffer and be sharp.”

A state of mind lost by blood and gold at the truce, when they were in 8th place in the championship. So how did they find him, what’s more in such a critical period? “We realized that we were getting closer to the end and we had this reaction, replied Johann Obiang. It’s human.”

A decisive tactical change

Perhaps it was also provoked by the decision of the president, Pierre-Olivier Murat, to impose greens on his group the day before and on the day of the matches since the “unworthy defeat” in Quevilly (2- 0), in his words. Nassim Ouammou greeted: “We had to do something. Staying together in these moments allows us to be more concentrated than if we spent them with family or friends. If sleeping at the hotel before a meeting increases our chances of victory, I want to do it every time! (laughs)” “By spending more time with each other, we love each other and we discover each other even more”, continued Lionel Mpasi.

Ruthenian defender Julien Célestine, who went through the Toulouse training center, gave another argument to explain the newfound determination of his people: “We saw the 500 opposing supporters off the field, they were chambering, were sure to win the title here. .. It was a source of motivation, especially as our fans really played their role as the twelfth man. I send a big thank you to them because we need them.” “We were galvanized by this particular atmosphere”, also admitted Johann Obiang. Nassim Ouammou added: “There were also almost all of our families in the stands.”

On the lawn, Laurent Peyrelade’s change of tactical system, swapping his immutable 3-5-2 for an effective 5-4-1, was the last piece of the puzzle of renewal. “Faced with Téfécé, this is the ideal tactic since it allows him to block his monsters on the wings (Ratao, Ngoumou and van den Boomen when he dezones)”, analyzed the one who seemed more comfortable going from piston station to that of middle left.

Better, like Johann Obiang, who was able to combine with him and cause the winning penalty as a side, or even the sentry Bradley Danger, found in a two-man environment alongside Rémy Boissier. Strong choices from the coach, such as having dismissed Pierre Bardy and Jordan Leborgne.

This is how the Aveyronnais have taken their destiny into their own hands. It’s up to them, now, not to let go.