Robert Beric : "The Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is the key"

There are still three matches that must be played and the team is close to qualifying for the Europa League...

If someone had told me that in January, I would have laughed. We’re in a good situation, at the best of times, that is to say with three matches to be played before the end of the season. Everything is possible.

Two of these matches will take place in the Cauldron. Do you think that the Cualdron will dictate the destiny of the team?

The Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is the key to the end of the season. There’s always a small advantage when playing on your home turf since you can count on the support of the fans. It’s always great to win in the Cauldron, in front of the fans, here in Saint-Etienne. During each match, there’s a magnificent atmosphere. It’s always great to celebrate a victory at the stadium.

How did you so quickly get your bearings with the Verts?

I got my confidence back by scoring and by seeing the team play so well and by winning as many matches as we have. The coach, by using his discourse and his behaviour that is always very positive, brought a new energy to the heart of the team. He reinvigorated us. That’s the key that brought this new ASSE into being. Maybe the goal against Nîmes was the trigger. Of course, scoring so quickly after my return helped me. Especially since it was my first match. That put me in a good frame of mind.

Jean-Louis Gasset has several offensive players in his arsenal. What is it like, the change between starting player and substitute player?

Whether I’m a starting player or not, I prepare for the match the same way. There are a lot of good players on the team. When you don’t play, it’s because there’s a reason. You have to work hard everyday when you train in order to set your sights on a position on the starting line-up. It’s good because we ask everyone to be at their best level. There’s a fierce spirit of competition at the heart of our team.

What is your opinion of the Girondins de Bordeaux?

I’ve seen several of this team’s matches. They have many good players that can make a difference. We’ll have to be vigilant when they attack. They’re not in the same form that they were at the beginning of the season but they’re still a dangerous team.

How do you feel about the team as we approach the end of the championship?

We still have a lot of energy because, in the privacy of the locker room, everyone has the same objective, the same combative spirit that pushes us to win the last three matches. Everyone is motivated to ensure that we stay where we are right now. There’s no room to relax even a little bit.