INTERVIEW. “Everyone saw us passing by…” Alain Casanova looks back on the last TFC-Laval in the Coupe de France, he was on the pitch that day

Alain, if we tell you May 19, 1993 at the Stadium…

Of course ! It’s the famous quarter-final of the Coupe de France between Toulouse and Laval… A big disappointment, obviously, we had high hopes: a D1 which receives a D2; then we had a truly superior team. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal early on. We were never able to come back despite a lot of situations. It was a disillusionment, yes, because we were on a good path. Personally, I arrived in the fall, the team was in difficulty and together we got back on track. So we had a lot of hope for this Cup, I remember it perfectly; in shift, you start to imagine lots of things… Bad evening.

You admitted to us, then on the Toulouse bench, talking about the cups, that it was your worst memory as a player.

Clearly. I repeat: we had a workforce in terms of cohesion, complementarity, camaraderie I would say, quite extraordinary. Definitely one of the best groups I knew when I was playing. We were strong and at the same time we had elements of talent.

Also read:
TFC: “The whole Téfécé family is at your side…” The club announces a very serious injury for Niklas Schmidt

The goal of Franck Bonora, from the 4^e minute…

We are caught on a corner and their center forward scores with a header. In a strange atmosphere. I experienced that as a coach afterwards: everyone inside the club, like the stadium, is convinced that you will pass. That this will almost be a formality. But we know that in football things don’t always go the way you hope.

Also read:
TFC – Strasbourg: “I needed to prove, to myself and to others”… How the Englishman Charlie Cresswell explains his good period

Off the cuff, can you tell us the XI lined up that day?

So, me in the goals; a four-man defense Romano-Frapolli-Hernandez-Galtier. If my memory does not fail me: in the midfield a double pivot Debu-Delpech with, higher up, the Czech international Nemecek, very powerful. On the wings, Pavon and Ferrer. Bancarel at the forefront. A 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3: always the same, it all depends on the animation.

Also read:
INTERVIEW. France – Spain in the semi-final of Euro 2024: “If we find a little Mbappé…” hopes Alain Casanova, former TFC coach

In the championship, do you struggle for a long time not to go down?

I arrive at the club at number 10^e day, mid-October. Coming from OM where I was initially supposed to be part of the transfer of Fabien Barthez, bought in the summer by Marseille. Go the opposite way. In the end, it didn’t happen. But Toulouse had a goalkeeping problem at the start of the fall with Olivier Pédemas injured (knee). And called on me (with Philippe Lafon understudy): I should have arrived in July, I am arriving in October. Coach Victor Zvunka has just been dismissed and Serge Delmas, head of the Training Center, is in charge of the team. She is last with great distrust from the public. It is, therefore, true that we have long played for our survival, however we will still finish 13^es.

Also read:
VIDEO. TFC-Strasbourg: “You were scandalous!” When Damien Comolli got angry with the match referee after the barrage

Exact. With a maintenance ratified three days after this painful elimination, against Bordeaux, at the Stadium!

Cup Wednesday, championship Saturday. Double from Antho Bancarel at home [NDLR : dont l’ouverture du score, sur l’engagement, au bout de 13 secondes !]. I remember it very well…

Let’s return to the Coupe de France. As number one coach, your heartbreak is the elimination in the semi-final against Guingamp (1-2, 22/04), another L2, in the spring of 2009, still on the Ile du Ramier , No ?

Necessarily. It was my first season as head coach, it was great (4^e in L1), it could have been magnificent. Now I don’t know if we would have won the final (Rennes will be beaten 2-1) but going to Paris… The match scenario is complicated [Toulouse mené à la demi-heure, égalise à la 75^e et est sorti à la 90^e]the result very hard. A big blow to the head.

Also read:
TFC – Strasbourg: many absentees, some of them last minute… Discover the explanations and the Toulouse group

Watch out for the Tangos, then…

I usually follow Laval matches because my former teammate coaches: Olivier Frapolli – who was with TFC-Laval in 1993 (for the record, it’s him marking Bonora on the goal). And in the team there is little Sam Sanna who I had under my supervision in Toulouse. Afterwards, even if the club is having an interesting journey in Ligue 2 and the logic in the Cup is rarely respected, I think that Tef, currently on the rise, which has regained confidence, which is sure of its football, has all the ingredients to qualify.

Tell us a little more about this team?

The Laval residents came close to correction two years ago, at the beginning of June 2023 – and I weigh my words: they escaped at the last second by winning 2-1 in Amiens! They knew how to draw the consequences and strengthen themselves in crucial positions. Among others at the goalkeeper level with Mamadou Samassa who has already experienced the upper floor. It’s a team that has a guideline and sticks to it; she has kept a frame for two or three years. She is capable of displaying great complementarity. In short, not an easy opponent for the TFC.

Do you watch all the Tef matches?

When I can. It remains my favorite club, I still spent 25 years there! The others with whom I shared moments during my career are also important, but nothing will be above Téfécé. My children, my grandchildren are supporters of Toulouse.