“Sincerely, great respect to the TFC”… The declaration of love from Grégory Schneider, head of football at Libération and columnist for the Evening Team, at the Violets

You recently met the TFC coach for a long format published in “Libé”. What struck you most about him?

Whether he wins matches or loses them, that’s not really my concern. I like different speeches. I found this guy incredible.

In what sense?

For example, during the entire interview, he spent his time talking to the press officer. He used it to mimic actions for me. He said: “That’s the opponent. You, put yourself there. The idea is to put the ball there”… He was driven by an energy and a flame that I found contagious and which shook me a little. We felt the coach was young and idealistic. He spoke of football as a precious subject. At the start, I didn’t really understand the idea of ​​giving a club that weighs in Ligue 1 like Toulouse to an inexperienced coach. Being with him, I understood in three minutes. My interest in Toulouse came from there.

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Do you have sympathy for the TFC if we understand correctly?

A little, yes. Toulouse, from afar, is an attractive club, because it is under the media radar. We don’t hear about it even though we talk about the third city in France. There is this fascinating side, a little mysterious, because we know less about this club than we would like to know.

How do you view the progress that TFC has made since its takeover 5 years ago?

There is something distinct that emerges from the club. Financially, there is a strict salary scale where we do not exceed 40,000 euros per month, and as soon as a player takes the salary dimension above, he leaves. I am thinking of Branco Van den Boomen, Brecht Dejaegere and Stijn Spierings. These three were not far from being the best midfielder in France at the time. Tèf didn’t even try to keep them. He looked for other people. I find this bias interesting, because there is a clear line. You do with little, without deviating from your policy. This is not without risk, because every year the mayonnaise has to set, but Martinez Novell succeeds. Afterwards, it can be frustrating for the supporters…

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It’s the data game…

That fascinates me. With the date, the TFC leaves the usual networks, fashionable players… Even if it means taking a guy in the depths of Norway. Afterwards, the club does not have the means to do otherwise. In Toulouse, it was explained to me that the problem was not so much the TV rights crisis as the salary structure of the locker room. If you have your guys at 40,000 euros, you will hold out at the time of the DNCG (the financial policeman of French football, Editor’s note). I think management needs to do a greater job of communicating around this, so as not to frustrate the supporters too much.

Do you find that the club is properly recognized in the media on a national level?

Really not. Afterwards, I went to all the clubs and everywhere, they told me the same thing: “There are only enough for two clubs, Paris and Marseille.” Mediatically, it’s as if football had been reduced to two clubs.

Does this upset you?

Totally. It is a terrible impoverishment. Afterwards, on TV, they look at the audience curves by the minute. The fact is that if we make a theme about Stade Rennais, it collapses. Unfortunately, it is not the media that is causing the lack of interest. These are the people who force the media to pauperize by focusing on PSG and OM. I went to spend an hour and a half with Alexandre Dujeu, the Angers coach, I didn’t blow up the Libération website with that…

The TFC is three points from Europe. In your opinion, is this an achievable goal at the end of the season?

They don’t have to forbid it! Of course they can do it. It’s the only team that left the Parc des Princes with more expected goals than PSG! If you see the match and the chances, they can beat Paris without there being anything to complain about. Dominating PSG at home in terms of scoring chances is no small thing! We have to go, right? Sincerely, great respect to TFC.

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You almost talk about TFC like a lover…

Oh yes yes! Something different is happening there and football is experiencing differences. If I hadn’t met Martinez Novell, I wouldn’t have caught this. The club has every interest in opening up more.