“I love Football, I’ve lived for it since I was 5,” recalls the one who started at the Entente Haut Béarn and whose passion has not aged a bit. In this week when the Vertes (8th) are preparing to host Fleury (5th) on Saturday (5 p.m.), the Haut-Béarnaise takes stock of the first quarter of the season.
Why did you leave Guingamp and sign for Saint-Etienne?
The departure was carefully considered, I think I needed a new and perhaps even a last challenge. I admit that the call from Saint-Etienne really appealed to me for several reasons: the history of the club, the connection I had with the president of the association, the coach or certain players who liked me. spoke about ASSE.
Perhaps one last challenge: are you thinking of quitting?
As long as my body allows me to play, I will continue. I'm reaching an age where some players stop. If I can last until I'm 33, 34, 35, I will. I left for a long-term project in Saint-Etienne.
Do you keep your profile under the attackers?
Yes. After my first two seasons as an attacker at Guingamp, I played in a slightly more remote position, attacking midfielder. I was no longer asked to be up front, waiting for balls in the area, but to be more creative, to try to trigger actions instead of finishing them.
Back in D1 last season, Saint-Etienne is still playing to maintain itself?
Yes, the objective is to acquire the maintenance as quickly as possible and then go and play spoilsport higher up. If we can, we won't deprive ourselves of it.
What are your thoughts on the start of the ASSE season?
9 points over 6 days, for a team playing to maintain, it's consistent. Now, we must not forget that we started with three victories, which was great, and that we remain with three defeats. Even though we knew we weren't going to win everything, it tainted our start to the championship. We have our feet on the ground, we work, we know that the championship is more and more homogeneous and that all the matches are difficult.
Was there any relaxation after three days?
No, no, we didn't feel very strong and invincible! In fact, our three defeats do not allow us to draw a very simple conclusion to correct it. In Le Havre (5-1), it is perhaps because of individual errors. Against Dijon (0-2), it's more of a collective problem. In Strasbourg (2-0), we had a very good first half but we conceded a goal just before the break which put a little blow to our head. We come back with intentions, we fail to score and we take this second goal which affects us a little more.
Football goes both ways. This is also what makes it beautiful. We must manage to cut this series as quickly as possible by reassuring ourselves, by perhaps turning our backs at certain moments, by agreeing to play less ball and be stronger defensively.
Your experience of D1 and captain must be felt in the Saint-Etienne locker room?
I try to pull everyone up, talk to the youngest, advise them, support them.
How did your integration go?
It was honestly very easy, for me and for all the news. The alumni were able to welcome us very well, the coaches and the staff too. As newbies, we did what was necessary so that the mayonnaise set fairly quickly. We can put it down to the first three victories obtained while the group has changed a lot.
And the Drill?
It's nice, different from Brittany and 64. It also has its own charm, with very welcoming people. It's cool, I'm happy.
Did your parents like ASSE?
My father is a great connoisseur of Saint-Etienne, he accompanied me for the signing, he visited the premises and the stadium with me. He was like a kid, he was almost the one signing!
Did you go to see Ligue 1 at Geoffroy-Guichard?
Yes and I understand why it is called the Cauldron! It's really impressive.
The girls played last year against Lyon at Geoffroy-Guichard and we will be entitled to two or three posters this season. We had the chance to play at Meinau last weekend, I had the chance to play at Roudourou with Guingamp, there I will take a step (a level, Editor's note) in terms of capacity and quality.
In Guingamp, a locker room leader
If she only keeps “good memories”, Sarah Cambot experienced four “completely different” seasons with En Avant Guingamp, from 2020 to 2024. The first was “very good. We created a surprise by finishing 5th, I adapted really quickly.” The second saw her don the captain’s stripes. The third was the best statistically, with 7 goals and 4 assists. Essential stats to stay elite. The fourth proved to be “the hardest with maintenance validated two days from the end”.
By the numbers
4 clubs, 8 seasons, more than 130 matches at the highest French level for Sarah Cambot in her career. Educated at Entente Haut Béarn and FC Oloron, she moved up to D1 in 2016 with the Girondins de Bordeaux. She continued in the elite with Soyaux (2018-2020), Guingamp (2020-2024) and now Saint-Etienne.
“An experienced player”
“Sarah is an experienced D1 player, capable of scoring between 6 and 10 goals per season,” underlines Laurent Mortel. The ASSE coach targeted the Haut-Béarnaise to improve the heart of the Saint-Etienne game: “She can give us this regularity and this technical accuracy in the midfield that we needed”.
