Jean-Louis Gasset : "I don’t want this positive streak to stop"

What is your feeling about the last game against Strasbourg ?
When one look at the statistics of that game, one can’t be satisfied. After the good game we played against Nantes and Paris, I could not imagine we could play so badly. We didn’t deserve to win, like in Angers. Thanks to Ruffier, who saved us several times, and Mathieu Debuchy, we were able to make a miracle. After two days, I was no longer upset and I prefer to consider it was just a bad day for us.

What did you tell your players this week ?
We fixed some problems, we told them that they needed to be more committed and focused. After Paris, everybody congratulated with ourselves, so maybe we thought we were a greater team than what we actually are. In football, if you behave this way, you can be easily disappointed and that was almost happen in Strasbourg. We have to remember this on Sunday.

Is the possibility to qualify for Europa League a further pressure for your team ?
The most difficult pressure is behind us. It was hard to enter our stadium and not to feel home when we had to play important games against Toulouse and Caen. But now, we are doing extraordinary things. The team and I don’t want this positive streak to stop. We need to play as we know and take three points.

What is your objective ?
This week-end, our closest opponents in the League are facing each other. So, we have an opportunity to go higher in the ranking and we need to take up the challenge. I already said I want to end the season in the highest possible position, it is true. But we have to play as a team to make it.

What is your opinion about Mathieu Debuchy’s performances ?
He is a very good player. I knew it before he came to Saint-Etienne and I am now all the more convinced about it. He has all the qualities needed and he is also able to score goals. He never gives up. But I’m not surprised. If everything continues in this way, he will play the World Cup. I hope so and I am sure this perspective stimulates him. He is now very confident when he plays and the French National coach knows he can rely on an experienced professional player if he decides to bring him to Russia.