Jean-Louis Gasset: «It’ll be like facing an unstoppable machine»
With the match against Marseille looming on the horizon, a team that has made their mark since the beginning of the year, Jean-Louis Gasset hopes that his team will demonstrate prudence during the match. He’s also counting on the experience of the recruits from the winter transfer window to give his team an edge during this next game.
Did you match the Coupe de France match that Marseille played yesterday in Bourg-en-Bresse?
Marseille was professional, lived up to their reputation and by winning 3-0 we know they managed better the fatigue of their players. Except for Mandanda and Rami, everyone was given time to rest. What’s more, Marseille has earned 13 out of 15 points since January. They didn’t lose against Monaco and Paris. It’s been quite some time since Rudi Garcia found the strategy that works for his team and all the players are following it. They give the impression that they’re an unstoppable machine.
What does the offensive potential of Marseille bring to mind?
Marseille scored 9 and 6 goals during their last two matches and on average they score three. They have a player who seems to walk on water: Florian Thauvin. We’ve only been holding our own for a while now, we’ll have to be vigilant during this match.
In this respect, does ASSE’s last performance in Amiens reassure you?
The victory and the quality of the performance that we displayed during an hour gives us confidence. We dominated the game, we would have liked to have taken the lead earlier especially since we created openings to score. But we scored two out of the five times that we shot on net, at present that’s our average. Tomorrow, our adversary will be tough but we’ll try to compete at their level.
What’s your opinion of the winter transfer window as it relates to ASSE?
I obtained the players who play the positions that I asked for as well as Mathieu Debuchy. On paper, our team looks good but everyone has to bring themselves to their peak level of physical performance and learn to play together. The players are working hard and feel that we haven’t had the time to put everything in place that we would like to, so they do their part. I feel that the players want to succeed. These players have former international statuses and I hope that they will have this status once again.
How have you created a group dynamic?
I’m a trainer, I don’t go around trying to improve the ambiance but I feel that there’s a good harmony among the players right now. The new ones are well-known, professional players and provide a good example to the younger players on the team. They’re accustomed to playing high-stress matches. Yesterday, we trained in the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium and I saw that the stadium made them hunger for glory. I felt that they imagined the stadium packed. They’re impatient to experience this ardour once again.
Is February the most difficult month in your calendar?
We’ll be facing Marseille on our home turf and playing as an away team twice: in Angers first and then in Lyon. But, as we say, we’re going to play the matches one at a time, playing as best as we can and progressing during every match. When we have 42 points, we’ll sleep more easily. We have to win 5 matches, I think that that’s possible.
