France Bleu: Yohan, why was it important for Stade Malherbe Caen to sign this boy who arrived here a year and a half ago?
Yohan Eudeline: Norman has shown interesting qualities since his arrival. There is constant progress with him. From there, it was logical to go to a professional contract. He reaches an age where it is important to agree on the terms of a contract, that he continues to progress but that he is protected on the contractual level. We had a decision between all parties at the club for him to sign his first professional contract.
FB: What do you like about Norman Bassette’s playing?
YE: He’s an attacker who has a lot of mobility, capable of going deep, who never lets go. This corresponds to the values that we simply want to put in place. On top of that, he is skilful in front of goal. He’s a goalscorer. Now, between succeeding among young people in 17 and 19 and succeeding up there (among the pros), there is often a gap. And we want to accompany him for that. There will be tough times in his career yet. In any case, we want to accompany him, that he be freed from that with a first professional contract and that he can now work more lightly.
FB: You shouldn’t get carried away with him, but you also have to protect him to avoid losing him?
YE: Yes, it’s important to protect our young players who can flare up. Norman is one of them, like others. Today, we have to protect them very early otherwise they are quickly attacked. That’s what we did with him. Now, as I have said and repeated to everyone, there will be difficult stages for him.
It’s not because he signs his first professional contract that he will play professional right away, but in any case, he will be able to be released on the field and only think about football. There are still steps to go. We’re going to make sure it goes well for him. Now he must not change anything in relation to his game and it is not because he has a professional contract that he must change anything.
FB: It’s a bit like Johann Lepenant who had to wait eighteen months between the signing of his pro contract and his arrival on the field with the pros? Doesn’t it happen overnight?
YE: Yes, it’s like all young people. Today, we are in a football that goes very quickly, unfortunately. And the difficulty for clubs is having to protect young players quickly. When a player comes to train with the professionals, we often have the agents call us in the evening. While sometimes they were just called to make up the numbers. This is modern football. We have to adapt to all of this.
For Norman, it’s different. He is a boy who has a constant progression and who is efficient when he plays in 19, who is efficient with the reserve. It’s normal to go to a first pro contract. It has a favorable environment too. He is well supported so everything was in place for us to go towards this first contract.
FB: Will there be other contract signings relatively soon? We think of Tidiam Gomis (attacker) or Lamine Sy (lateral). Are there discussions around these boys?
YE: Yes, there are discussions with different players. Now, we will see if these are trainee contracts or professional contracts. Signing a professional contract should not be easy. Either way, that’s not what we want. It must be something difficult. On the other hand, we are obliged to protect them. So there are discussions, of course with Tidiam and Lamine among others. We’ll see if it works.