“I almost missed a match in Lille because of my car”

Before Lille’s reception at the Stade Louis-II, this Friday at 8:45 p.m., time for our “MyMemory” series, which allows a fan to recount a memorable memory. Today, meeting with Maxime, present during the great success obtained in 2016 (1-4).

He has been a supporter of AS Monaco for almost 22 years. Now 30 years old, Maxime is a loyal fan of the Principality club and does not hesitate to make numerous trips, he who was notably present for the Centenary match. Also present during the big 4-1 victory in Lille in 2016, the native of Saint-Quentin tells us his memories of this meeting and his adventures before the kick-off. Souvenirs.

Hello Maxime. How long have you been a supporter of AS Monaco and why?

I became a supporter of the Club thanks to my godfather’s brother. I was 7-8 years old, I was very young and I really liked football but without being interested in a particular team and he made me want to follow this Club. It’s really stupid but at first I liked the logo and the colors. So I watched a few matches with him and then quickly got a taste for it. I have been following this team for 22 years in France and all over Europe from time to time.

Before the match in Lille, did you make any other trips?

It took me a long time before making a trip to Monaco due to lack of means and the way to get around. One day, my neighbor who was a Lensois supporter suggested that I go to Bollaert for a Lens-Monaco in 2011. I still remember it very well, we made it 2-2 thanks to a last minute goal from Ludovic Giuly.

It started that way and then I kept going to see them there. My first match outside Lens was Leverkusen in 2014, with whom I was in the company of the Munegu 51 branch. Then, I made several trips to Dortmund, Arsenal, Manchester City, Anderlecht, Bruges, Juventus and everywhere in France…

As a resident of Saint-Quentin in Aisne, you are rather well placed to make several trips.

That’s it, yes, even if I’ve never been to Paris yet. I went several times to Reims, Lille, Lens, Strasbourg and Metz. It is really in this area of ​​France that I had the chance to make several trips.

The match against Lille in 2016-2017, was it obvious to go there that day?

Yes, and during each pre-match, there was euphoria at the idea of ​​going to see AS Monaco, especially since I was bringing a friend who was a supporter of the Club. So I wanted even more to introduce him to that, especially since it was his first match and the team was already doing perfectly well. We had taken precautions to arrive at the stadium early enough to enjoy the surroundings and be calm so as not to miss the start.

Unfortunately, I don’t think everything went as planned…

I almost missed the match because of my car. Before leaving and having deliberately left, I went to a supermarket to change the battery in my vehicle key. I get back in my car, I open the case to be able to insert this battery, except that without realizing it, I lose the chip.

Very happy, I put the box back on, I turned on the ignition except that obviously, it wouldn’t start. So I decide to buy one but the tension rises. I start to get angry on my own without necessarily showing the pressure to my friend. I see time passing, I called my sister if she could lend us her car. However, the timing was right because she had a 40-minute drive to get there. Luckily we were able to arrive in time and walk around the stadium.

Where were you placed in the stands that day?

We were in the stands alongside the opposing supporters because we had not been able to be in the park. However, it was just above us, a little to the left. From where I was, we could hear them well and could see quite a bit of movement. We lived the atmosphere by proxy, we believed in it (laughs). For our part, that didn’t necessarily stop us from celebrating because Lille was a pretty good crowd, we didn’t have any particular problems.

What memories do you have of this meeting?

I obviously remember the adventures of the outward journey and we debriefed the match all the way back. On the match itself, I remember Fabinho’s goal which was magnificent. From the edge of the area, he delivered a powerful cross-field shot. I also remember that we played with these magnificent “cream” jerseys that I have at home. That goal struck me because we were a little shocked and we wondered what had happened.

In the end, there was no match.

Yes, despite the fact that Lille was a good team at that time, we were still sure of our strength and that showed why we deserved to be champions in the end. I saw us winning but not necessarily of this magnitude. The end of the evening was even more beautiful! We rolled over them, we knew how to play our game and we were very, very good, it was quite impressive.

Who was your favorite player on this team?

There are definitely a lot of them. Having Polish origins, I think first of Kamil Glik but if I had to name just one in this team, I would say Bernardo Silva. Each time I traveled, I hoped to be able to see him at the airport, for example, so that I could take a photo with him. During this match, it was not possible but during other meetings, when I traveled with my antenna, I was able to take photos with him. It makes great memories!

Experiencing this match with a Monegasque supporter must have amplified this great victory even more.

Yes clearly! We didn’t see the return journey pass, we only debriefed the meeting. It was his first trip, he gave me anecdotes about the atmosphere in the park, the goals, the talent of the players… I was proud to offer him these moments and to see him so happy on the goals, it was was great.

It was also difficult to hold back when we scored despite the fact that we were next to Lille. With the four goals, we gained confidence. I wouldn’t want to say that we were at home but it was just like it (laughs). It’s always nice to be in stadiums like that with supporters who know how to put things into perspective.

Earlier, you said that you had traveled to Europe during this season. What was the best?

It was Dortmund in terms of the atmosphere, the final score but also what had happened the day before with this tragic event. With our antenna, we had to leave again because we could not be accommodated there, before returning the next day. There was a communion between the German and French fans that I had never seen before. The score was even more beautiful.

Finally, what is your prediction for tonight’s match and the rest of the season?

It’s going to be difficult to be objective for the rest of the season given how we started and the atmosphere in this group. I see us as champions and that reminds me of the team from the 2016-2017 season which was also a real family by being there for each other. I feel like that’s the case this year as well. They seem confident and focused on one goal. In any case, I hope to be in the top three. And for this weekend, I see a close match but with a 1-0 or 2-1 victory.

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???? The match sheet:

Saturday September 10, 2016 – Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Ligue 1 – 4th day: Lille 1-4 AS Monaco

Half time: 0-2

Buts : Palmieri (90th) for Lille; Sidibé (2nd), Traoré (17th), Fabinho (47th) and Glik (71st) for AS Monaco

Yellow cards: Palmieri (44th), Bauthéac (76th), Amadou (83rd) for Lille; Bakayoko (45+1st) for AS Monaco

Lille : Enyeama – Corchia, Civelli, Basa, Palmieri – Amadou, Sankharé – Amalfitano (Mendes, 46e), Benzia (Mavuba, 46e), De Préville (Bauthéac, 61e) – Eder

Substitutes: Maignan, Beria, Soumaoro, Sunzu, Bautheac Mavuba, Mendes

Coach : Frédéric Antonetti

AS Monaco : De Sanctis – Sidibé (Touré, 79e), Glik, Jemerson, Raggi – Dirar, Bakayoko, Fabinho, Traoré – Bernardo Silva (Moutinho, 62e), Germain (cap) (Falcao, 65e)

Substitutes: Badiashile, Ndoram, Touré, Boschilia, Moutinho, Falcao, Jean

Coach : Leonardo Jardim