Giovan Oniangue (Dijon winger): “It’s an incredible feeling, we all like playing in the final. We know that this is not a given. It was a very frustrating year: we had a great team but we had a lot of injuries which stopped us in our momentum. That’s why we wanted to make amends this (Saturday) evening. We knew it was going to be difficult but that the mentally strongest was going to win: we were mentally stronger. »
Massimo Cancellieri (Strasbourg coach): “I am proud of the players, they were all involved, until the end, to win this match. It’s disappointing to have lost but it’s our story, we have to accept it. If you don’t score and the team opposite does, you can only say well done. We took avoidable baskets, it changed everything for them. I’m excited to coach these guys. We are aware that we have three matches left in the Championship. We will manage the energy. If someone doesn’t want to give their all, they should stay in Strasbourg. »
Paul Lacombe (back of Strasbourg): “I’m disgusted, we didn’t give ourselves every chance. In the last five minutes we missed the momentum, we gave them the advantage at the end of possession. (On travel conditions) We arrive at 1 a.m., by minivan, for the most important match. You all saw that we were tied and the last five minutes. We were only able to give 32 or 35 minutes. I don’t want to hide behind that, I wasn’t good in the second half, but I had no energy left. We didn’t have 40 minutes this (Saturday) evening. It pisses me off, I’m even more disgusted with the context, I feel like I couldn’t have fought with all the weapons. […] I know it’s annoying. Dijon deserves its victory. (David) Holston, who was non-existent, makes the three-pointer that kills us. Dijon is a quality team. I just feel like I didn’t fight with my weapons. »
Laurent Legname (Dijon coach): “It’s a bit like the season: we had big ups and downs, but we knew how to keep our heads together. The fact of having created this state of mind during these difficult months allowed us to win this (Saturday) evening. We will never know what the season could have been with the full squad. But we will remember from the 2023-2024 season that the JDA won a title. And these days, it’s going to be more and more difficult to win them. […] It’s extraordinary for the players, for the staff, for an entire club. And very happy to bring a title back to the city because, like I said, I love this city, I have real affection. We saw a very beautiful communion, it boosted us. I was very emotional at the end because I haven’t had the easiest last two years as a coach, but I’m very happy, very emotional. »
, after the victory in the Coupe de France: “Mentally stronger”){kind=link}