It was from Metz that Arnaud Bodart commented on his departure from Standard. He notably mentioned his sidelining in favor of Matthieu Epolo.
The first part of the season was long for Arnaud Bodart : between his aborted departure, his sidelining and his injury when he had just returned to the team, the Seresian would have dreamed of a farewell more in line with his 20 years spent at the club.
Bodart took it upon himself to accept the situation as best as possible and guide Epolo, still far from being a finished product: “It was announced to me that the coach wanted to prepare everything with Matthieu Epolo. I know him very well and that is an excellent goalkeeper,” he begins in SudInfo.
Epolo, one of the next to leave?
A child of the club, Epolo was directly supported by the supporters, even if he took the place of another boy who was more than appreciated by Sclessin. The management also supported the decision. With an objective behind his head, reports Bodart: “We must not hide our faces, Standard was hoping to achieve a double blow: sell me, put Matthieu in the window and accept the first good offer that comes along. It’s a reality” .
-Lacking liquidity, Standard had a well-rehearsed plan: “I was given the example of Mike Penders, who Genk sold to Chelsea for 20 million euros. Management said why not do the same with Matthieu? We’re in a football business, eh.”
The situation was hard to live with: “I was disappointed. It was a very negative moment but it allowed me to learn. A career is never linear and there is no point in lamenting about your spell”. Especially since for the moment, the plan is slow to take off: Standard is only at the first stage… a free departure of Arnaud Bodart to the French Ligue 2.
