Steeve Blanc-Mappaz (captain and third row of FC Grenoble): “This match, even lost, was important for our history; important because, given what we have put into ourselves since the start of the season, what we leave behind as a memory had to be up to par. It’s hard to fail at two points, we wanted to come back, but there’s also a lot of pride in having given the best of what we could today. Montpellier, opposite, was pragmatic and knew how to keep its back. We always have a bit of the same problem, we don’t know how to kill the match when we need to. In the second half, we failed close to the line; we made them doubt but that wasn’t enough.
It was my last match. I would like to remember the human adventure that we experienced together, we went through all the emotions this season with guys who are friends, brothers. This week again, we managed to remobilize ourselves even though frankly, I was wondering if we were going to be able to turn things around after the defeat in the final. »
“In a Top 14 match, the slightest mistake is paid for in cash”
Wilfried Hulleu, Grenoble winger
Wilfried Hulleu (FC Grenoble winger): “It’s frustrating to finish two points behind, we come away feeling disgusted, with the feeling that it was within our reach. But in a Top 14 match, the slightest mistake is paid for in cash. Here, I’m a little at the bottom of the bucket but I know that we showed a real face and we can be proud of ourselves. this season, we went until the end; we won a quarter, a half, we had a good access match… Next season, we will have to build on what we were able to do this season. »
Régis Montagne (pillar of FC Grenoble): “To lose by two points… obviously we are disappointed. They were realistic, we responded to the fight, in all sectors. and we lose our efficiency. We lost last week, we lost there… Sport is like that. The fatigue, yes, it was there but with this audience, the context of our entire season (six points less before the start, plus two more in December, because of financial concerns), the fatigue, we forget it, it only the heart and the desire remain. Despite the two defeats in one week, there remains the feeling of having succeeded in the season. On July 1, we were told that we had a one in two chance of being unemployed. We’re coming back from hell. In five years, everyone will be happy about this season when we meet again. »
