“Hello Daniel, episode 4”. For the fourth time this season, the captain of the DFCO, Daniel Congré, was the guest of 100% DFCO, Monday January 17, 2022. The continuation of our common thread with the dean of the DFCO (36 years old). On the menu: the 2-0 victory against Rodez and its goal, the obligation to chain the victories, the recovery after contracting the Covid-19 and a new section: the interview “fan or not a fan”.
The victory against Rodez: “we are not going to be choosy”
“We had to be reassured. Especially in terms of accounting. We displayed great values of solidarity, a great state of mind, with great notions of combativeness. That gives hope for great things, but we must not fall back into our through and drive the point home on Saturday against Quevilly”.
After the meeting, hot, Daniel Congré had spoken at the microphone of France Bleu Bourgogne “an almost perfect victory”. Two days later, with hindsight, he confirms : “We have to do better, especially in the game, we had control but we are able to do much better. But, at this stage of the season and after a lot of absences, it was a relatively decent match. We’re not going to be choosy, we’re taking those three points and we’re going to dive into the details to polish it all up.”
Stung after the defeat against Nîmes
Before Rodez, for the first match of the return phase, the DFCO lost 2-1 at home against Nîmes. “Distressing” according to coach Patrice Garande. Daniel Congré, affected by the Covid-19, did not participate, but according to him the speech was heard : “He always has the right words, strong words, even perhaps a little too much at times, but he knows why he says them. Of course, that necessarily stung us. Everyone was aware that the performance was very average , to put it mildly. There was a very studious, very serious week. We corrected that in a very good way”.
His 2nd goal this season: “It’s my goal now to score a third”
Daniel Congré put the DFCO on the right track on Saturday, by opening the scoring with a shot in the area after an extension control, well served on a free kick. “I’m quite surprised to find myself alone. My direct opponent was behind me. I’m trying to follow up as best as possible and it worked for me. Good, it got the team off to a good start. Besides, like against Niort, it’s Valentin (Jacob) who gave me another decisive pass. It’s funny, because he’s my roommate as well (laughs). It’s great. After the complicated trip we had , which also unites the team, it was a very good thing”.
In his career, the man with 490 games in Ligue 1 with Toulouse and Montpellier has never scored more than two goals. Towards a personal best this season with Dijon? “Of course, it’s my objective now to score a third. I said at the start of the season that I had to be more decisive offensively. I’m waiting for the third now”.
The rest of the season: “The priority is to chain victories”
While waiting for all the postponed matches to be played, the DFCO ranks 11th in Ligue 2. What does Captain Congré hope for the rest of the season? “It’s a bit complicated to project yourself. There, above all, what we want to do is a series of victories or at least invincibility, to go up in this first part. That’s why Saturday’s match is very important, it’s a very important week. The priority is to chain victories, we are able to do it, it’s been a while since we did. To win as a game and reassure yourself as well”.
Soon the reunion with the Stadium and Toulouse (February 5), his training club
“It’s always special to come back to your native lands and where I took my first steps in training and as a professional. Especially since it’s been a while since I’ve been there, because Toulouse was in Ligue 2. So it will always be a special match”.
The departure of Grégory Coupet, goalkeeper coach: “I joined him in his way of working and doing”
This is the news this Monday on the planet DFCO: the departure of the goalkeeper coach Grégory Coupet towards Ligue 1 and Bordeaux. “He was a full part of the staff, there are a lot of exchanges. Greg’, I liked him a lot, already because I played against him (laughs). He’s a professional sportsman with a great career and he’s a competitor. I know he didn’t do favors for goalkeepers, he’s a workaholic. I joined him in his way of working and doing. It’s a shame he’s leaving But it’s his choice. Especially during the season. He has his own reasons and I’m not going to comment on them. He’s a great guy, and I wish him well.”
Recovery after the Covid: “I do not yet have an optimal form”
Daniel Congré was one of the five players affected by Covid-19 and absent for the match against Nîmes. “Everything is fine, even if I am not yet in optimal shape. But because I have had a series of holidays + Covid, so a lack of training. A week of training was not enough for me to get back on my feet. It’s definitely going better and better, and I’ll be fine this weekend.”.
The “fan or not fan” interview
- Artificial atmospheres in stadiums
“Fan. Even if it’s artificial, it still creates an atmosphere and it makes it easier to get into the groove. It doesn’t look like a friendly match, at least there’s a little atmosphere and I think it is nicer”.
- The golden jersey of the DFCO
“Fan. I totally agree. I find it very pretty, even if it’s not the historical colors.”
- Trips that turn into journeys – as the DFCO experienced to get to Rodez, with a diverted plane on the way there and back, an extra night in Aveyron and hours of bus
“Not a fan. Although it ended well, not a fan at all. I prefer that it happens in optimal conditions.”
“Yes and no. I think it’s good because it protects the referees, but you also need a way to protect the players. I would be for the microphone, frankly, to clear everyone”.
- The African Cup of Nations, which deprives the DFCO of two players (Sénou Coulibaly and Bruno Ecuele-Manga)
“It’s a very good competition, but it doesn’t take place at the best time. They had better do it in June, even if the conditions are complicated. I think that’s a bit of a drag on the sport in general”.
- Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux who are fighting to stay in Ligue 1 and who could therefore soon join the DFCO in Ligue 2
“It would be a shame for them. These are two historic clubs that have nothing to do in Ligue 2. Let them stay in Ligue 1, so we can join them in a while.”
“Yes why not, it would give much more visibility to Ligue 2, which is a very interesting championship”.