Arrived at the Lou in early December, Karim Ghezal put the Lyon club back on track. A small personal revenge for the one who was dismissed from the Stade Français last September. He is preparing to receive the Stade Français this Saturday, March 18.
The lights have returned to green since your arrival, right?
When I arrived, the club was 13th two points from the last place. It was a bit of a commando mission, mid-championship, with a team and a club that I know very well. The challenge was exciting. When you are coach, there is nothing better than that.
I came with a simple mission: to become a respected club again and fear with fairly simple things. For that, it was necessary to recreate a link, knowing that the workforce was fixed on its future. The group had quality but could not exploit its potential. I simplified a lot.
Like what ?
It was necessary to go to the basics, to reconnect the guys between them, to put the defense at the center of the project. I also simplified meetings, speeches, removed everything that was statistical to get back into action. I told players that the most important thing was what I saw, not what I heard. And bring freshness.
Top 14 classification and calendar
This team had won only one outdoor match over the last 25. Being feared and respected, it also goes through perf ‘outside. We managed to win in Bordeaux (20-22), draw in Racing (25-25), take a point in Castres (30-25). Without forgetting the challenge victories. Only on that, we have done better than for two and a half years.
The main qualities is to be consistent and constant.
“Today, eleven potential matches remains”
From a barragist, you are today a top 6 candidate. Do you have any objectives in mind?
As I said to the players, we are still in the running in the two competitions. As long as no one eliminates us, we have the right to dream. Today, eleven potential matches remains. I turned the workforce so that everyone can participate.
Does this new challenge in Lyon allow to evacuate the frustration of the end of adventure of the Stade Français?
Not at all, there was none. My last match at the Stade Français with responsibilities is the semi-final. The rest, I was no longer in controllers on team choices and strategy. So when I was there anymore, there was no frustration because I was no longer a decision -maker. I won’t say that it was a relief either, but … (he recovers) after, we can judge or not.
The club, in 140 years of existence, had never finished in the first two. I used the workforce, the staff, I played the young people and I fulfilled the goal that I had been given to qualify the club in the direct semi-final. We lost it. We could have been in overtime without three posts or a penalty test.
It was your first experience anyway, we imagine a taste of unfinished …
My first experience (like Coach number 1) is a semi-final against Bordeaux-Bègles which is played almost at overtime. Afterwards, the experience I took, I will use it to move forward.
I arrived alone in Lyon, with a staff and a workforce already in place. The challenge is great. Today, there is already a challenge semi-final which is checked. And we are in Top 14 races.
We will see at the end of the season when we are from my experience but in any case, it made me grow.
You will play Montpellier this Saturday, and you will find Antoine Battut (MHR key coach). You played together in Montauban and Racing 92. Did you stay close?
Yes, we’re going to eat together on Friday, like last year. I do it very little. Antoine is a friend. Beyond being my future opponent on Saturday. We lived in good years in Montauban and Racing. Friendship has remained. He was there for my last match.
He does a very good job in Montpellier. He is a recognized coach, with a lot of qualities.
