In an interview given to 90footballthe former Verts player spoke about his time in Forez, and in particular about the atmosphere at Le Chaudron. Let us recall that the latter also crossed paths with ASSE for two years in Ligue 2 during his time in Pau.
Henri Saivet declares his love to the audience of Geoffroy-Guichard
Considered one of the best audiences in France, Saint-Etienne supporters leave an impression on their former players. Having spent only a year in Saint-Étienne, Henri Saivet still remembers the great European evenings. And in particular a certain ASSE-Manchester United: “What has remained is the epic in the Europa League. Playing Manchester was good because we were able to bring back a very big European team to Geoffroy-Guichard. That year, he won too, so we have no regrets, let’s say! It left a mark on me because we were able to at least thrill the supporters and everyone took part. I was happy about that,” delivers the native of Dakar.
Obviously, the Senegalese remembers the matches against Lyon, where there was a very special atmosphere: “Another highlight was the derby we won (2-0 against Lyon, Kévin Monnet Paquet and Romain Hamouma were scorers). It was exceptional. Even before the match, they had come to the training centre in L’Etrat. The atmosphere was exceptional. Smoke bombs everywhere. We felt that it was of capital importance to them. All matches are important, but this derby had an even more special flavour. We really had to win it.”he explains.
Better yet, the former Bordeaux player was decisive during the ASSE-Lyon match: “I have a flash of my assist for Monnet Paquet. I remember, we go towards the public, we see all the supporters who come down like that. I looked at them and I was afraid. Honestly, I tell myself that if I had been an opponent, I would have been afraid to see that. Already afraid that they would hurt themselves, because you had the impression that they were all going to fall. I felt shivers. It is indescribable, you have to experience it to understand it. Really, it is a crazy crowd. I have never seen a crowd with so much fervour, I have never seen that in my life. I knew that the atmosphere was like that, but to experience it as a Saint-Etienne player… in terms of atmosphere, fervour, I have never seen that! “, says the former Green. Promoted to the elite, Henri Saivet will not be able to return to his former club, he who will play in Clermont, dropped to Ligue 2 at the end of the season.
A big Saint-Étienne fan, I still get excited every time I talk about the 2013 League Cup title. Remember… ASSE-RENNES final, we’re playing in the eighteenth minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang receives the ball on the left side, crosses with the outside of his foot, and finds Brandao who puts the ball in the back of the net with his left. 1-0 for the Greens, the score remains like that. Enough for me to remember it as if it were yesterday.
