He almost never misses a home game. Immoderate supporter of the DFCO, the mayor of Dijon and president of Dijon Métropole, François Rebsamen, was the guest of the show 100% Sports
on France Bleu Bourgogne, Thursday November 3, 2022. The “Reds” are in a very bad state, no victory in the last nine games and a premature elimination against amateurs in the Coupe de France. François Rebsamen expressed his annoyance about this dangerous slope on which the club is committed.
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François Rebsamen, are you angry and worried, like the Dijon supporters at the moment?
It’s a disaster, it’s even a shame. Some players have used this word, and indeed, given the budget of the DFCO … In general, there is still a relationship. It is not because we have the first budget that we are the first, but it is rarely, when we have a very good budget, that we are among the last, and that is what happens to us today. There is an error somewhere, find the error.
Where do these difficulties come from?
There is no boss in this team, it lacks a player in the middle who knows how to play the ball. In the midfield, there is not a player who is able to create play, which is still a problem. Finally, we have a team, and I told the president, that I find less good than last year, so it’s worrying.
There was at least one player called Benzia, think what you want, who was a Ligue 1 player last year. But apart from Le Bihan, I think that in front, in the middle, it’s weak.
We have a team, and I told the president, that I find less good than the year
The seasons pass, but the same problems persist! Do you think there is a problem with the mentality, the state of mind of the players?
Sure. As we can see, it’s not possible to concede goals at the last minute. Ultimately, it’s better not to have scored before, because you can be sure that the others will score afterwards, you have to be careful! Excuse me for this humor, but you have to smile a little at this, you must not despair, and hope that they will recover. It’s not the coach who is responsible, it’s the players. We still have to strengthen certain positions, some players are not at the level, we must tell the truth.
If you were president of the DFCO, would you maintain your confidence in Omar Daf?
You can’t change coaches all the time. For three years, the coaches have followed one another, but the results have not followed. The problem lies elsewhere, we have to look for it in psychology, in the ability to have someone who knows how to mobilize or set an example through the quality of his game. But today we don’t have this player, nor leaders of men as we have known with Cédric Varrault or Stéphane Grégoire, players who impose on others. Reynet used to do it, but he does it less now, and then it’s not the role of a goalkeeper. We are missing a great player in the middle and I think that would be more than enough for the DFCO to go up, because in this championship, everyone is almost equal. You just need to have a bit of guts.
The DFCO, 15th, is very close to the relegation zone. Do you fear a descent in National? Is this a real danger in your opinion?
I fear it. I fear it for the city, for the image it gives. It’s hard to remember that recently DFCO beat PSG (in 2019). We had teams, we did several seasons in Ligue 1, we shouldn’t go down, because it’s difficult to go up. And then with these players who really lack energy, perhaps not individual will but collective will! We do not feel them animated by a flame, by a desire. The match begins, they pass their time making back passes.
Let’s talk about the future, where do you imagine the DFCO in ten years?
The DFCO has its place, in the long term, in Ligue 1. It’s a young club, which is 24 years old, I financially supported the renovation of the stadium, we redid the stadium, we followed it in the climb, Ligue 2, Ligue 1, downhill, uphill. I didn’t think we would come down like this.
The DFCO has its place, permanently, in Ligue 1
Dijon is the 15th city in terms of population, there’s no reason we can’t be in the top 18, in football, basketball, handball, in all sports, whether for men or women.
Olivier Delcourt, president of the club since 2012, declared last January: “I don’t think I will do another ten years at the club”. Did he discuss the aftermath with you?
I think it’s exhausting, tiring. He really invests a lot, and he does not have the return on the moral investment, I’m not even talking financial. And yet, he created a club that has solid infrastructure foundations, just look at the academy. Really, the players need to pull themselves together. It is not worthy, of our city, of the commitment of the president, the staff, nor of the municipal team, which also carries sport in Dijon.
More and more French clubs are owned by foreign owners. What would you think of this prospect if it happened in Dijon?
If the club is sold, I would prefer it to be a French investor first. Sochaux is run by Chinese, Auxerre too. Moreover, I take this opportunity to say that I regret that the effort of the Region is not equivalent for Sochaux, Auxerre and Dijon, which is directed by a business manager from our Metropolis and our region.
What is your role vis-à-vis the DFCO? Are you trying to influence team compositions?
No no. I discuss with Olivier Delcourt. The president is a friend, I tell him in friendship what I think, and I think I know football better than him. But it’s not him who makes the team, it’s the coach who makes the team, he trusts him, it’s quite normal. Since he is interested in this club he chairs, sometimes he rants and he is right when things are not going well, and this is the case at the moment.
President of the DFCO, has that ever tempted you?
Oh yes ! If I hadn’t been in politics, I would have liked either to be a sports journalist or to run a football club, I would have liked that.
It seems that you are following the DFCO transfer window very closely…
I chat with the president, I tell him things, he tells me “it’s going to be done in an hour”, so I have the “privilege” of having it an hour before, but I don’t try to have secrets before others. Simply, I give my opinion as I would give it to any club president.
Do you have a mercato anecdote to tell us?
I remember a player who exploded at international level, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (moved to Dijon in 2008-2009). Rudi Garcia, with whom I am very good friends, said: “he will never go to that level”. He became an incredible goalscorer. I said to Rudi Garcia: “he has incredible qualities of speed and everything”, and he answered me: “he is not technical enough, he will not break through”. And when I saw Rudi again he said to me: “I wouldn’t think he would go to that level, really”. But I’m not always right, otherwise it would be too simple. I am passionate about all sports.
Tac-au-tac interview, in a touch of the ball
- The best player in the history of the DFCO? Julio Tavares.
- Your favorite player? Cedric Varrault.
- Your favorite in the current squad? Mickaël Le Bihan, he has technique, he brings play, and he wants to, you can see it, you feel it, and he says it.
- The one you are closest to off the pitch? Baptiste Reynet, and before Sébastien Larcier.
- Your best memory of supporting? I could say the victory against PSG, but the victory against Lyon 4-2 (as of August 2016) which had enraged Jean-Michel Aulas. He quickly gets angry.
- Your worst disappointment? I’m going to take the last, to be eliminated by a club in the last National 2, leading 1-0, as usual an opportunity, a goal for the others.
- The best goal? Jeannot, a shot from more than 30 meters, a half-volley. We succeed in one in his life, he did it, unfortunately he did not put many others (six in total with Dijon).
- The best atmosphere in Gaston-Gérard? Lyon, PSG, Marseille, the big clubs!
- The coach who went through the DFCO with whom you had the most affinity? I really like Rudi Garcia, I still see him and even if it ended badly, Olivier Dall’Oglio was a good coach for many years, with a good game.
- The trainer with whom the current went less well? I did not have many contacts with Patrice Garande for example last year, but it is perhaps because we did not have the opportunity.
- Bonus question, is football right or left? It’s good, it’s transpartisan, it’s Macron. Besides, he’s a real football fan, and when he gets up in the World Cup final, I tell myself he’s someone who is good because he loves football and he’s there “. The biggest football supporter, former president, is François Hollande.