He did not escape.
Stade Français manager Gonzalo Quesada came to a press conference on Thursday to take on the sad record of his team at the start of the Top 14: 3 defeats, 37 points conceded on average, and a last place in the standings.
He also projected himself towards the already decisive match against Castres (Saturday 3 p.m. at the Jean-Bouin stadium).
How was the week after
the heavy defeat in Toulon (38-5)
?
GONZALO QUESADA.
It was a 48-hour week, between our return from Toulon Monday at 4 p.m., a day off Tuesday, two working days Wednesday and Thursday and rest tomorrow before the match.
It's not easy when you play on Sunday at 9 p.m. and then the following Saturday at 3 p.m.
But that's fine, we have fewer sick players, we will be in better shape than in Toulon.
How is the atmosphere in the group?
It is necessarily tense, but we are not going to question everything.
Some saw us more beautiful than we really were.
Now, we must not look for excuses, we are not at the level it takes to compete.
From the first match it was very tense, because it was the home derby (36-21 defeat against Racing at Jean-Bouin), and we knew that if we missed it, we would only have two complicated matches in the end. outside behind and that the dynamics would not be good.
Unfortunately, this is what happened.
What are the points to improve?
We analyzed this internally, we identified several reasons, several things to correct. Like you, I keep the image of a team that puts itself in danger on its own. The management of the match was a problem that we had already identified last year. We haven't been able to improve it yet. We're super irregular. As soon as we have a low time, we lose our footing. The confidence, the benchmarks that we have acquired over the course of last season, we have not yet found them. The attack is less fluid. We were building a lot around the 10th and 12th. Joris
(Segonds)
and Léo Barré resumed late in the season
(selected respectively with the XV of France and the under 20s, Editor's note)
, they do not yet have all the benchmarks. In the center, Ngani Laumape
(the All Black came to replace Jonathan Danty who left for La Rochelle)
works hard to understand the game in France, he does not yet speak French and plays with 10 super English-speaking steps… It takes more time.
There are undoubtedly other reasons in our preparation.
We are aware that we are not at the level.
"I take care of what depends on me"
In spite of everything, are there reasons for hope?
There were several positive moments.
In closed scrum, on offensive and defensive balls carried, where it is still a sign that the team does not let go.
In terms of accounting too, last year we had already lost these three games (at home against Racing, in Bordeaux and Toulon).
We are not doing better this year in terms of results.
But we don't stop at mathematics.
The content is disappointing.
We were really very average, that's what puts us on alert.
Castres is not the ideal team to relaunch ...
It's a team with opposite dynamics.
They are in full confidence, they have not lost a match
(two wins and a draw)
.
We know what is at stake, we know that a new defeat would put us in a really complicated situation.
But you don't just have to think about it.
We are strong when we manage to express ourselves, when we are in a dynamic of trust.
You have to find performance and the right state of mind.
The coach is often the first fuse.
Do you feel threatened?
In danger, no.
I exchange regularly with the players, the staff, the management, with Thomas
(Lombard, the general manager) and
Doctor Wild
(the president)
.
We all know that we have to react quickly.
It's super dangerous for a coach to distract himself with these questions about the future.
I have some weaknesses, but my strength is not to pollute myself too much with that.
I take care of what depends on me, my players, my staff, our game, our season.
This is how you can overcome difficult times.
