Bitter, angry… On the phone, Bryan Bergougnoux does not need to raise his voice to make his feelings clear after the announcement of the brutal and last minute cancellation of the 32e of the Coupe de France final between Tours FC (R1) and Lorient (L2), initially scheduled for this Saturday, December 31 at 6 p.m.…
A decision taken five hours before kick-off, while the Ciel et Noir coach was preparing to welcome his players for the traditional pre-match chat.
Bryan, how do you react to the cancellation of this 32e final of the Coupe de France?
“I had players on the phone who were in tears. There is also a lot of frustration… For my part, I feel a lot of anger! Managing a club cannot be improvised! »
This duel against Lorient, leader of Ligue 2, was supposed to be a celebration…
“We hoped to highlight the enormous work of the players since this summer. In the end, we highlight everything they have been going through for months, all the problems that they are hiding thanks to their results because they are going through hell. It must be said now. »
That's to say ?
“Since the start of the season, we've been tinkering here and there… Because promises aren't kept! Imagine: we were happy to pass the previous round of the Cup because it gave us an allocation of eight new balls from the FFF, while we train with a dozen half-inflated balls. Finally, in these conditions, having chained fourteen consecutive victories (in Regional 1 and in the Coupe de France)it’s not even a miracle anymore…”
“And be careful, when I say this, I want to clarify that Ibrahim Hakaoui (the general director of TFC, appointed this summer upon the arrival of Ivan Desmet) has done an enormous job. But the promised means (implied by the new Belgian owner) to manage the club are not there…”
In recent weeks, salary delays have been brought to light by La Nouvelle République. This is what you are talking about in particular when you mention “hell”…
“The players wanted to strike on several occasions to protest against this situation. I dissuaded them because I know only too well how badly a strike led by footballers would have been perceived… They listened to me, they said nothing, they gritted their teeth. They held on to this adventure in the Coupe de France. For them, it was an escape… Today, they are deprived of that! »
Do you think you have a small chance of playing this 32e final against Lorient in the coming weeks?
“I have no illusions! Today, we will be eliminated on the green carpet having passed seven rounds in the competition. Whoever wins the Coupe de France will not play as many (L1 teams enter the fray in 32es) ! We are going to be eliminated without being able to play. It’s scandalous…”
Your bitterness is palpable…
“I have experienced this type of meeting, these full stadiums… Well, I have not yet experienced them as a coach and I have this frustration. But, above all, I am sad for the players. I'm bitter, disgusted… There, I'm going to welcome the boys…”
Bryan Bergougnoux intends to fight for his players and for the survival of Tours FC.
© (Photo archives NR, Julien Pruvost)
What will you be able to tell them?
“That I will not abandon them!” I will do everything so that we can mobilize people so that they get involved here, in this club, so that it continues. I will move heaven and earth. And if the boys need to find a club, I'll call! There are players who can play at a much higher level. This Cup match was a way for them to prove it! »
Beyond the anger, do we feel more than worried about the future of the club?
“It’s yet another negative image of the club that is given! This is what hurts me the most. When I see the work of the volunteers, again in recent days to organize this match… All of that is wiped out. But we will get back up! »
Comment ?
“I don’t know… But we will do it to represent the city and the region much better than here. There are hard times in life, this is one of them. It must have been a huge moment for the players, for the volunteers, for our supporters. Joy right there, at the start of the Christmas holidays… In the end, we hit rock bottom, but we're going to give it a push to get going again. We're going to take off again. This event must be the end of an era and the beginning of a renewal. »
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