The day after an accomplished match against leader Saint-Malo (1-1), Cédric Hengbart took the time to look back on the first four months of competition (five wins, five draws and four defeats).
What assessment do you draw from this first part of the championship?
Cédric Hengbart : “On what we are proposing, I think the results are good. The people who watch us play enjoy it. This team is playful, try. Afterwards, there is a little disappointment because I think we should have at least 4 more points: I am thinking of the defeat against Dinan (0-1) and this draw against Saint-Malo. When we look at the ranking, Locminé and Bourges have one game less, Saint-Brieuc two. We can almost find ourselves at number 10e place while I think we deserve to be in the five with what we have produced since the start of the season. »
There was a very good start (three wins, three draws) then the team got a little stuck during the fall.
“It’s perhaps a bit of bad luck, against Dinan, but also Locminé and Poitiers. And October is a complicated month to manage with the Coupe de France where we only play every other weekend in the championship and then weaker teams in the Cup, that breaks the rhythm a little. There were also some injuries – Lucas Capoue in November for example… All of this meant that we were not very successful in October-November. »
What is your reference match?
“I loved the matches against Bordeaux and Saint-Malo. On a difficult pitch, we managed to create some very good sequences and build energy throughout the entire match. The match against Le Poiré too (5-0) because we must remember that we were 0-0 in the 60the minute. We had put in place a game plan to tire them out and make them “explode”. What's good, if we compare with the match against Châteaubriant, is that at 1-0, we continued to attack. We had 90 minutes of quality. »
And the missed match?
“Bourges (3-1), where we are starting very well. But afterwards, we had the impression of being a team of young people who came to play ball against a team of adults who came to win. In managing the match, we were weak. »
This group rarely misses twice in a row.
“Today, before starting a match, I know where the team will be. Against Saint-Malo, we were told: “They’re the first, it’s going to be hard. ” But I knew we were going to compete. I know where we go every weekend. This is also why we try to open the matches as much as possible because we have this control of the game.”
And the group seems to be having fun.
“Before the match, I told them that I loved this team because it represents my values of work, humility, kindness for others, solidarity. We win, we lose, it's one thing. But I have boys who are honest with me and with each other. They also know how I work: the group is not very large and everyone can quickly find themselves in it and be a starter, which is fortunate. When they work well, they know they will have playing time. I don't like this way of working: “I have my eleven players and the others are waiting until there is an injury to return. ” The group must live and everyone must be involved. »
There were several changes in the squad, particularly in midfield. This was not felt with a very good start to the season.
“Yes, the players quickly adapted to the game project in place since last year. We always go a little into the unknown when we recruit, especially since at my level, I cannot follow up for a year to see their progress. It's often in June when I receive the CVs and videos that I start to find out if it fits into my playing framework. For example, we see that Redouan Belkaious is struggling even though he is a very good player. but on the other hand I have two experienced players – Bryan Ngwabije and Daysam Ben Nasr – who have been around more and are used to adapting. »
When is the recovery planned?
“Thursday January 2. They will have to resume from December 27 to 30 with an individual physical program by sending their daily performances by telephone. We did it in July and December last season and it went very well. This allows us to resume directly the football part and the ten days of training before the trip to Saint-Brieuc on January 11. We should also have a friendly match against Vineuil on the 4th.”
