The Burgundy derby is approaching, between DFCO and AJ Auxerre, Monday, November 22, 2021 at Stade Gaston Gérard, for the 16th day of Ligue 2. A long-awaited match that we talked about with Christophe Point, in 100% DFCO, at one week of the match. The current DFCO reserve coach, in N3, knows the subject well : he was director of the AJA training center between 2016 and 2017, before returning to Côte-d’Or. Interview, with information on his relationship with Patrice Garande (whom he has known for a long time), on the young Erwan Belhadji and on the future opponent of the Dijon in the Coupe de France, Morteau-Montlebon.
In your opinion, is there a real rivalry between Dijon and Auxerre?
As in all derbies, there is regional supremacy to be had. It is perhaps more marked vis-à-vis the supporters. I think that it still exists anyway and that it is quite marked.
Does this rivalry exist from the youth teams?
It is marked in the clubs. When the teams of the formation are opposed, there is also this derby-la, each club wants to dominate the other in terms of results and performance. The rivalry is very present, afterwards there is nothing bad about it but it is true that domination at the regional level is important.
A derby is a “special” match. How does it materialize?
There may be more attention from the media, from the supporters, which creates a different climate from the usual matches with this extra intensity or motivation. It’s an environment that is different, and that we also find in European Cup or Coupe de France matches. Something extra that creates a special atmosphere.
It’s an environment that is different, and that we also find in European Cup or Coupe de France matches.
Should the DFCO be inspired by the AJA training center?
They are two different clubs with very different histories. DFCO is a very young club while AJA has a history that everyone knows. In terms of experience and experience, in terms of training, it is one of the first French training clubs, there was this rivalry with FC Nantes in two different styles. Today, it is less the case, they also suffer from being in Ligue 2, and having a lot more competition than in the past where they had that head start. They had the best French, there were also very few training centers. Today, talents are dispersed among the 36 or 38 training centers in France.
You know Patrice Garande well, the new DFCO coach, you were at the same time at SM Caen in the 90s …
He was deputy and I was responsible for 15 years national. We always stayed in touch. We know each other very well.
Does this facilitate the relationships in your work at DFCO?
It is Patrice’s desire to give playing time to players who have little with him or who are not used. The very idea of a footballer playing football pleases me (laughs) so we are delighted to have this additional experience at the youngest level.
Some young people from the DFCO have had playing time in the Coupe de France, like Erwan Belhadji. What did you think of his performance?
I found him quite comfortable on the left side. He’s a right-hander, you’d expect him to play on the right. He had done it before in some training sessions, we had put him in that position and he had done well. He is someone who listens and is receptive. He obviously needs experience and playing time to progress, but he’s on the right track. What he was doing with us, he is able to reproduce it too so it’s pretty good.
He’s on the right track
He plays sideways, he is more trained as an offensive player …
It has all the qualities to make a modern side. He has to learn from experience, the fact that he signed pro and that he rubs shoulders with the pros every day is a very good thing for him.
A word on the future opponent of DFCO in the Coupe de France, Morteau-Montlebon, who plays in the same group as you in N3?
It is still a place where winter is marked. And also – this is what I often say to the players about the Franc-Comtois – they have important values of courage and solidarity, because we are in the amateur world and we have to train in the evening when it is very very cold, you have to be motivated anyway. These are teams that never give up, who have a remarkable state of mind on the values of sport and what they can give collectively on the pitch.