Pros Vendredi 04 Oct. 2019 à 19h06

Claude Puel : "A great club with a great history"

Named General Manager and coach, Claude Puel took part in his first press conference this Friday. And delivered a unifying message to begin his mission at the head of the professional team.

How do you feel after having been named General Manager and coach of ASSE?

I thank my two Presidents, Bernard Caïazzo and Roland Romeyer, for having proposed such a project to me. I reflected on my part on leading because Saint-Étienne isn’t rightly classed. It’s always very difficult to take over a club during the season, it’s a real challenge. In very little time, we must be efficient, get to the point. I didn’t go through the preparation to have been able to get to know the team. Saint-Étienne is a great club, has a great history, much enthusiasm, passion and expectations. Those are the things you need in Football.


How would you define your coaching method?

Everywhere where I’ve gone, in what I’ve been involved with and in my work, I’ve tried to give everything I have and to give it my all. I’m not a careerist. I respect my managers and the fans. When I defend the colours of the club, I defend them completely. My vision is turned towards the future in order to develop the different components of the club, putting in place a sportive and collective project, making the players and the team progress, establishing the link between training and professionals. It is something that is close to my heart.


Who will be at your side every day in your new role?

Jacky Bonnevay will assist me for a second adventure. He’s from Roanne. He’s an ASSE fan. The Presidents wanted to expand the club. Xavier Thuilot was on the list of candidates for the position of General Manager. My arrival accelerated his. We shared a common adventure with LOSC. I know his experience and his integrity. I know everything he can bring to the club. I learned with him the expectations, the factors, the different services of an institution. Often, the coaches are uniquely focused on the players. From the managers’ perspective, we need to make the club viable and do things with consistency. Coming here, after one third of the season, we have to get to the point. I knew by hiring Xavier that we could meet this challenge. The existing staff will continue to work with the first team because I respect what was put in place.


Exactly, how will you approach the expectation attached to your arrival?

The challenge remains difficult. The team needs confidence. We need to support the team. The whole club is going to work hand in hand to return a better image and good results to the Stéphanois. It’s a vain wish on my part. We’ll give it our all. A match is coming very quickly. It’s important that I be on the bench, even with little hindsight. 


In what state of mind will you tackle your first match as the coach of ASSE?

A Derby does not necessarily need tactical or technical elements. It demands solidarity, abnegation and cohesion. We have to give it our all and obtain the best result possible. After it will be the time to get to know each other, ensure balance, put in place sports strategies.


What is your judgement of your new team?

You have to be on the inside to know, know the forces involved. I think that Saint-Étienne had a superb season last year. With the bad results, doubt is creeping in. Playing every three days, you get used to it. Playing in the European Cup is difficult as well. A team that is less used to it sometimes considers the championship to be routine. It’s also about learning. This team, despite the results, without a doubt learned much in the management of its journey. The essential thing is to correct your mistakes. I found the team to be making progress Thursday. With much consistency, intensity and common desire to win. That’s the basis for finding other qualities. Solidarity has always been the strength of the club. The enthusiasm is extraordinary, we saw it again yesterday evening during the match against Wolfsburg. We’ll need these people. I wasn’t interested in coming to Saint-Étienne on a short term basis to put out fires. I always approached this wholeheartedly. Before another match, the approach would have been the same. 


What are you going to say to your players before the Derby?

We met the team earlier with the staff. We got to the point. After Sunday’s match, we will have the time to get to know each other. We won’t change much from here to Sunday. I want this team to play the Derby with much liberty, let it be free to not get caught up by new instructions or constraints.

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Vert l'Avenir

Ensemble, faisons de notre club une source d'engagement, à domicile et à l'extérieur,
car un club de football engagé est un club plus fort !

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