What is the news from the infirmary, Frédéric Antonetti?
“We have a few minor injuries after the match in Bordeaux. Centonze has his back blocked, Vagner has taken a blow to the shin and it is painful. They haven’t practiced and they are both uncertain. Vagner tried, he was in pain. We’ll see tomorrow (Tuesday). Nguette and N’Doram will begin to partially work with the group on Thursday. “
How to explain the physical improvement of FC Metz when he had known a more delicate period recently?
“We had a whole week of training. We were able to manage time better with rest and work. In fact, we increased the dose of work at the same time as the rest periods. It was a mix of the two. “
You scored once again in stoppage time in Bordeaux…
“So much the better. It means that we have mental qualities. When it happens once, it can be an accident. When this happens several times, there is an above average state of mind. The mind goes with the physical. But you also have to be in good condition, be confident and feel that the game can change. “
Angers, on the other hand, is a team that concedes a lot of goals at the end of the match.
“You know, me, the stats… There is the match and its history. If you talk to me about possession in the opposing camp, that inspires me. There are also stats against you but sometimes those are circumstances. You shouldn’t trust that too much. Rather to the content. “
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“We got good support”
What discourse do you have with the players on this possibility of playing Europe?
“We’re not talking about that. I tell them why we got here. Because we have an exemplary state of mind, each time we try to correct our mistakes and move forward. Let’s focus first on the content of the matches, the involvement, the investment in the work and we’ll see what happens afterwards. Marseille and Rennes are in trouble and we shouldn’t be ashamed to say that they are better armed than us. We’re already happy to be with them, that’s a pretty good sign. We have 41 points, we got good support and what is important for me is the next game. “
What does this Angers team inspire you?
“You were talking to me about Europe. There, we are 5th with 41 points but I think that the 10th can also play Europe. It is Angers the 10th. There is no gap. You win a match you are 5th; you lose it, you find yourself in 9th place… You have to keep your feet on the ground. For me, Angers is a great team, a good example. The city is somewhat comparable in terms of potential. The team obtains good support, has a coherent sports policy. In fact, they finished 11th two points behind Europe last season. It’s very consistent what they do. There are good players and it plays football. “
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“The state of mind is not everything”
Your players rushed to Thierry Ambrose, decisive passer in Bordeaux for the first time this season. How do you interpret their gesture?
“Thierry Ambrose is a boy who lacked confidence and all the players showed him that they were with him. You need the state of mind and the qualities of a player to reveal yourself. The state of mind is not everything, but without it, we do nothing. This is the basis. “
Have you ever known groups, like Metz, which outperform in a season like this, without being scheduled?
“Yes, in Saint-Étienne, the third year. We were forbidden to recruit and the group went smoothly. We were not many but there were young people, unemployed players and an exemplary state of mind. In all the clubs I’ve been to, there have been positive things. In Lille, it took at one point. And that’s always when the mood is right. “
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