After highs, a solid professional career in France (Monaco, Caen, Saint-Etienne, etc.) or abroad punctuated by more than 255 first division matches, a victory in the 2013 League Cup with Saint-Etienne, lows , also, on a personal level with his former agent convicted of fraud in December 2023 at his expense, Yohan Mollo continues to play football, at 35 years old. For passion, for pleasure.
Martégal is one of the veterans of the Istrian squad alongside another player from Provençal Venice, Foued Kadir. “It can be good to have catalysts on a team. A team based solely on young people can quickly get crazy, but when there are veterans, they are there to set things straight, it can be a good mix.“
“I will stop playing football when I am no longer competitive”
If he was not started last week against Toulon, Yohan Mollo was decisive in the previous round against Cannet-Rocheville (N3, 4-0) by offering the 4th goal to Samir Ben Brahim that day. “At 35, I feel in good shape. If I'm still playing, it's because I have the canes. The desire, the passion. Above all, I am competitive and that is my priority. I'll stop playing football when I'm done with it. But like today, I still feel in full possession of my means and even if with age we lose a little pep, but with experience, we manage to compensate“, smiles the international Espoir.
With the bottle, we can also help out at several stations. The attacking midfielder is now used as a piston or in the right lane. “I am there for the needs of the coach, the team“, assures the former pro who will don the costume of Little Thumb for one of the rare times in his career, this afternoon (5 p.m.) against Grenoble, a Ligue 2 team. A player who appreciates being part of a group led by “a young, talented coach (Anthony Sichi, editor). He is also studying, he is progressing like the players. It's nice to see progress, I also hope to help the club develop in the future.“
“We must not forget where we come from”
As was already the case in November 2016. Istres FC, then in DHR, eliminated Nîmes (L2, 3-2) in the 7th round of the competition then Rodez in the process. These French Cup matches, apart, allow us to dive back, for 90 minutes, into the professional world that the club left in 2015. “It's already a reward for the players, we must not forget where we come from. Istres is coming out of six complicated seasons in N3. We were rewarded last year for our progress. Today, we are having an honorable season in N2, we are doing a good job, so facing Grenoble is also a form of recognition for us. For me, it's a match like any other because I've already experienced this level, but facing an L2 remains a prestigious team for our level. I'm happy for everyone. We're going to have to have fun, that's the key word because we have nothing to lose and produce a good copy.“
A past in the professional world which will inevitably serve as an asset before seeing Grenoble arrive this afternoon at the Parsemain stadium. For an achievement and a participation in the 32nd finals? “We are 11 humans against 11 humans, we don't have to worryconfides the former Stéphanois. And if some aspire to something else, at another level, it is in this type of match where they have the opportunity to shine. It’s also a great opportunity for the city. We know that the enthusiasm for Istres has been a little lost. So, if we can make the coat of arms shine again, that wouldn't be bad.”
