There were no warning signs?
No, really not. I didn’t get an ultimatum, a meeting or anything. I think we could have sat around a table and looked for solutions together. I had no warning, the decision came down radically on Monday evening. In amateur football and even in P3, some people believe they are in Real Madrid and act like they do in these clubs. However, human relations are important and crucial at our level. Some people forget it too quickly.
What was the reaction of the players?
I asked one last favor of the president: to be able to announce the news myself to the group on Tuesday. I entered the locker room, they all quickly understood. I even saw tears in some people. It was strong on the emotional level. It made me happy, it means that I left a mark on these players.
Is the score of 6/30 fatal to you?
It’s not famous, but I’m asked to drive at 200 km/h with a 2CV. The group is short, young, some went from P3 to D3 in a few months. And if we look at the rankings, we are not left behind. I had this objective of keeping the club in D3, but I was cut down in the middle of my mission.
You are the U12 coach and you took care of the pitches, are you going to continue?
No, I’m going to stop everything at Libramont, I’m disappointed, football is my whole life, everyone knows it and there, I took a hit. I will be able to get more involved as a physiotherapist in Virton and keep one foot in the world of football. What’s next? I have no idea. There, I am proud to have been able to bring a few young people into first grade, like my son and I hope that the club will continue on this path.
Sébastien Ricci, who was sports director, replaces you, what feeling does that give you?
He will probably say that it wasn’t his objective, but I don’t have the feeling that he did the most for the team. But I don’t want to argue with him, I want the club to get through it, no matter who it is with.
Interview: Jérémy RODE
