[Témoignage] Benjamin Lecomte: “Was it good to remove the executives? »

Facing the press before the match in Saint-Étienne, Benjamin Lecomte spoke about his tumultuous start to the season where he tried the bench under the leadership of Michel Der Zakarian. Back as number one and confirmed in his executive status since the arrival of Jean-Louis Gasset, the pailladin doorman seems more sensitive to the current coach's speech.

« I didn't stop working. There were decisions that were made and they were the coach's decisions, which I have always respected. Jean-Louis Gasset decided to put me back on, that's how it is, those are the vagaries of football. I always have the same objective, to try to perform as much as possible and to help my partners, whether when I play or not, but obviously, we enjoy playing more than being on the bench. By working, I found my place. We'll see, maybe I'll lose it again, maybe I'll win it back (smile). We'll see how it goes, but I haven't had a discussion on the subject with the coach. (…)

It was a very positive speech. Obviously, I am one of those who say that managers can save a club because we have experience. Youth allows us to bring back a little freshness. This combo can work well. I think this is what the coach is putting in place, because we see that since his arrival, things are moving towards positive things, whether in the minds or on the pitch. Now, as I said, it is the duration which will show, in the end, that the efforts we make on a daily basis are rewarded on the weekend.

There are two coaches, with different positions, who make choices… That's how it is. A coach had decided to remove the executives. Was it good or not? I don't know, I'm no one to say. The current coach is trying to rely on the executives to create something else. Is this going to work? For now, we're seeing the best. There is more investment from everyone.«