France Bleu Azur: What image illustrates this 97 final for you?
Thierry Crétier: When I have the trophy in my hands. It is really the symbol of the success of that evening and a relief in this failed season. We were going to go down to Ligue 2. So there we offered ourselves a parenthesis of happiness. And seeing those happy faces in the stands, our families, our friends, was fabulous.
That evening marked several generations of supporters…
Yes quite. It’s quite funny by the way. I’ve come across a lot of people from Nice lately who tell me about their adventures to go see this final. By train, by bus… We didn’t realize this madness at the time, we were in our bubble. When they talk to me about it today they still have the flame, it remains a great memory for everyone.
Did this enthusiasm allow you to transcend yourself in this final?
Yes it is undeniable. We lead in the score then Guingamp equalizes and there we had to be solid in the head. We had the resources to hold out in overtime and it’s also thanks to this enthusiasm.
I had a little feeling of sadness before the game
On a personal level, you return a few moments before the equalizer. Do you feel cursed at this time?
Yes I said to myself that they were just waiting for my return to equalize! The reality is that I am not at all physically ready when the coach brings me in. When I go to warm up I find myself next to Jean-Luc Vannuchi, trained in Nice and who was playing at Guingamp at the time. We had spent 5 years together at the training center and we only talked instead of warming up! So when the coach brings me in I explode physically! I had a lot of trouble getting into the game… In addition it was a final that I was hoping to play, I had started the season as a starter. I had a little feeling of sadness before the match. But once we get back we give everything and forget everything!
This penalty shootout next. Were you ready to shoot if the session was prolonged?
I was not scheduled to shoot but we had prepared a lot the weeks before. We had chained the penalty shootouts just in case. But fatality the only one who misses with us is Louis Gomis, who was surely the most precise in this exercise. So I think there is no truth. If I had to go, I would have gone! I would surely have trembled a little!
When the last shot on goal is scored do you remember the scene?
Yes, I turn directly to my family, my friends in the gallery. And then we do a huge sprint with the whole team towards this red and black stand, behind Bruno Valencony’s goal. I remember this communion, this explosion of joy.
My wife kept one of the two jerseys from the final
Olivier Fugen tells us that he threw jersey and shorts to the supporters. Did you keep the shirt you were wearing?
Yes at the time we were entitled to two jerseys. I know my wife kept one and the other I had to give away. The trophy I still have at home, in miniature. I’m not too materialistic but lately it’s true that I’ve been looking at the photos of this final quite a bit. And on the Internet I came across an image with Fred Gioria under the Arc de Triomphe, we have the trophy in our hands, it must be 6am. Memories of a fantastic evening.
A memorable evening it seems…
Yes we let go we will say. We were lucky that the club organized everything, the evening, the meal, all the families were there, the friends. It’s really a beautiful party, we had a good laugh. We needed to get together after this trying season. There was a kind of decompression, it was fabulous. There were a few cigars, a few glasses… Well the problem is that the next day we were invited to Téléfoot with the trophy… and it was a bit hard to stay serious!
And the return to Nice?
Total happiness! I remember it was raining but when we saw this world, we were really surprised, it was fabulous to share this with so many people from Nice! And then the presentation of the Cup was something. We presented the trophy to Ray against Metz. I knew it was my last season after ten years at the club. A great moment of emotion.
My best memory ? The rise in 1994
Is this the best sporting memory of your career?
One of the best yes. The best for me is the rise in D1 in 1994 with kids from the club. We were 13 or 14 players from the center in the workforce. A truly fantastic year to live and an opportunity for us to play and mark the history of the club. We had a close-knit group and we knew we would hold out until the end to bring the club back to D1. The Cup victory is a step down because the season has been a bit complicated for me. But it’s a trophy and it’s unforgettable.
Today it’s your son Noah who defends the colors of the club…
Yes I am very proud to see him wear this jersey. We will both go to the final at the Stade de France and I hope with all my heart that we will win this Cup to really launch this new project!