Sometimes you have to dig deep to play football, escape from difficult moments, doubts or injuries, empty passages that can echo our self-confidence. Clara Noiran has faced these moments of football, bitter to live. But that many players have known in their careers, which eventually strengthen over time, even if we never really escape. It must continue to prove itself in every training, every game. Interview.

You did not have the opportunity to enter in front of Paris, the coach explained to us that it was to avoid making you play for nothing and to make you lose your "energy and confidence capital". It was frustrating nonetheless not to face a top 3 team? You saw the game from the bench so what did you think? Did you learn anything from afar?
Yes, we talked about it on Wednesday, I understood that I would be on the bench and at the end of the training he explained to me what he told you, that as I was confident he did not want to frustrate me with a match where I was not going to have opportunities and as my strong point is not the defense ...
Yes it's a bit frustrating but I can understand, I had a rough week, because I'm in STAPS so it's always difficult to juggle the training. Being rested from time to time is positive so I accept it, I needed it.
It was a game a little complicated already because we almost did not cross the midfield, we spent our time defending. After I think the team did the block well and defended well, it was not bad. But in a quarter of an hour [in the second half] we flinched, we took the three goals, I think it's not an unmerited score, but we have experienced worse.
It is true that when we look at the match from an outside point of view it really has nothing to do. We do not see everything that's going on [from the field] and I think we can see more of the strengths of the team, and we see where we fish. I saw better the abilities of the team. I think we defend better when I see the game from the bench than when I'm on the pitch.

We also saw that before Rodez, you had already known the D1 with a big name of women's football, Toulouse, you made only one appearance against Vendenheim (1-1)? Do you mostly make your scales in U19? Just after that the club goes down again in D2 and there you explode, 13 matches, 13 starts, 10 goals and you have just after then signed to Rodez. How was it then because you were so hurt at the beginning of the season?
Yes, when I played in D1, I was doing the season with U19 and it was during this match, they wanted to let me once know this level and see what it was. So I accompanied the team a [D1] in Vendenheim. I remember we had flown, it was the first time. Just after unfortunately I joined the senior team, we went down to D2 with Toulouse.
I played only one season in senior in Toulouse. After I did three or four years in U19, at the time I was in Clairefontaine.
Yes I had been injured the first months of the season, I came out of a pubalgie. Then I knew a coach, Soraya Belkadi (former Blue) who now coached in Montauban, but who really trusted me, who had me tenure not even 18 years, while I had no experience in senior or in national selection and that's where I exploded.
I sign right after at Rodez. In the Coupe de France, we played against Rodez, we lost and I had a friend in that club, which I knew very well, Laurie Cance and who told me "there's my coach Rodez, who wants your number, can I pass him? " I said to myself "why not, it's always interesting". When you are 18 and you have the opportunity to play with a D1, we seize the opportunity. The coach had convinced me, the projects were attractive and I was offered a place in the IUT where I wanted to go to continue my studies, so it was a good challenge.

You arrive a little during a transition in Rodez in 2014, where you finish 7th, as in 2015 and you create the surprise last season by finishing 5th. Do you take seriously at this time? What did it mean to you to have so much attention on you? Or everyone thought you are the best progression, taking the place in Guingamp, Soyaux or Saint-Etienne?
Yes, it is true that I arrived here with some apprehensions, I did not know what was the world of football in the elite, the D1 Feminine. When I arrived, we were taken so seriously that even we did not really take ourselves seriously. We were there because we knew we had the qualities to be there. But here we took the matches as they came and we did not say at the beginning of the year, "we're going to finish 5th, we're going to beat all the records "etc. I think that the change of coach also played, so the team has changed ... It's a season where I did not really play when we had finished 5th, because I was coming back from my crusaders, but seeing so much attention paid to us, it really changed us, because now we are taken a little more seriously, there are things that are developing a little more in the club, due to this result.

Today, you know a season a little more difficult than previous years with the rise of the clubs of "Ligue 1", that you broke a little rhythm? It's a competition that is far more armed and envious? You must also deal with new players (Élise Bonet (Lyon), Angéline Da Costa (Albi), Océane Daniel (PSG), Cathy Couturier (PSG)) this season too, that explains that, with the departure and the injuries also of some teammates?
Yes, it's true, it was complicated, because already there are big teams promoted. But after that are only logos. There are still three D1 clubs that are not attached to large structures. But after that I think that effective level, we lost players who were important, the injured also it penalized us, so it was a bit difficult. There we are on a new dynamic, the truce is over, we chained some victories against the clubs that were needed, it's better.

We saw that Marine Haupaix had joined Montpellier at the end of last season, she does a little less match than Rodez. As you said there were some difficult starts to manage, it was one of the most complex? Do you choose to play for a middle-of-the-table club or stay on the bench and make a few appearances in a top 3 club?
Yes Marine Haupaix was the captain and a member of the team. She gave the atmosphere in the group, she knew how to coach the players, it is one of the elements that changed the dynamics of the group because it had qualities, a character, values. After that it's good for her to leave.
No I think that in view of my age, I prefer to have play time and target mid-table, see bottom of the table, rather than be in a good structure and make a few appearances. Me all I need to progress and come back little by little from my injury is to play and then to see if I have the opportunities that arise.

"It's one of the worst injuries for the footballer"

We also saw that you also had an injury from February 2015 to January 2016, this is the hardest time for a player in her personal career, it was long and more, how did you do to keep the cape in your head? You say you had moments of doubt? You had the support of some players like Sandie Toletti with whom you have forged strong ties to Clairefontaine as we have read? I saw that music was also a passion for you, it helped you in that moment?
Yes I made the ligaments crossed. It's true that it's complicated, it's one of the worst injuries for the footballer so it was tricky. I had trouble morally, but I was lucky to be well surrounded at that time.
Yes I had moments when I wanted to stop football, but it was not during my injury. It was when I had to start all over again, I had gained weight, there is more physics, the cardio is weak, we have no rhythm so at that moment I had many periods of doubts and I wanted to let everything go, I was disgusted.
Yes Sandie Toletti is my best friend, she always supported me, I spent my weekend to go see her in Montpellier, she helped me a lot in this event. Fortunately I had people like her around me to continue.
(laughs) Yes it's true, music is more of a family thing with my big brother, it's him who taught me to play the guitar. So these were more moments of reunion with the family.

We also saw that it was your brother who had forced you to play football, it was for fun or so he wanted you to go far in this sport?
No I think at first it was for fun, we are 11 years apart, so I was 3 years old and for him it was the sport he practiced with his friends. It was to have fun with me actually, and to have someone to play with and as I liked it. After he always supported me, pushed to go still further and it is him who made me pass a test in a college to aim higher ...

You made a few matches in the U17 and U16 selections, which explains why you did not continue in the following levels? Is the competition too strong? Are you aiming for a return to selection?
So as I told you, I was in Clairefontaine, it's for a period of 3 years and I did not have the opportunity to continue the third year and from there, I was there more.
Yes surely, that's why they did not call me back. But from the moment when they are selections of fifty players, in the presets I was not called while I was in Clairefontaine among many girls of my age.
For now I am focused on my studies, but it's not a thing where I'm closed. It's not a goal that runs in my head at all costs.

To return to Rodez, over the seasons the coach you trusted more and more, especially Sebastien this season, it allows you to have some confidence in you, knowing that nothing is acquired and you have to always prove yourself?
It is certain that when we know that we have the support of the coach, it is easier, it gives more confidence, there is less pressure. I had known that in Toulouse with Soraya who had put me in trust and who trusted me and that's where I was able to progress. I need that, to know that we rely on me and that's also what helps me to be successful. After that I know that if I miss it, it will run but I am aware of that, that there is competition, that I must always prove myself and that nothing is acquired.

This season you have been more than decisive several times, with the goal of the draw against Saint-Etienne, and then Marseille, before giving the victory to your team against Bordeaux and Albi in Cup, this role of scorer you l fully assume today?
Yes after that is thanks to the work of the team. I have the ability to finish the action, and to have that cool but it's something I did not really know to be so decisive, especially in D1. I'm glad it's going well.

"At first it's difficult but once it's over, it reinforces."

It was difficult anyway the transition between the two clubs? How was it, because they are still two teams very close to each other? You had less play time the next two seasons in D1, how do you explain this moment of your career a bit empty?
Well already the level was difficult because of my young age, I was 17 years old, when I arrived in Rodez. After Toulouse it was still a fairly "professional" structure. But in Rodez I knew several players, so it facilitated my integration. I quickly adapted, except for the weather (laughs).
Yes, these are moments of adaptation, there are things that make ... Already I did not have the level [of D1]. Yes it's complicated, it feels like a year off, a year that is useless, wasting time. But after when we see how it goes after, we do not regret it too much. Spending this year empty, that's what also allowed me to refocus on myself, and do what I'm doing right now. At first it's difficult but once it's over, it reinforces.

Because we also saw that you had faced Rodez with Toulouse in the Coupe de France (32nd) in January 2014, that's when you caught the eye of Nicolas Bach, the former coach of the RAF ?
He told me "you knew me" but he never told me when he had my name in mind to join the RAF. But Laurie had told me that at that game, he had a small eye on me, because I made a decisive pass even if we had lost 1-4. I had a good game, I was motivated to play against a D1 club in the region, while we were in D2. Then the Coupe de France, it always has a special flavor. But I think he had to watch other games, we can not judge on a single meeting.

What are you aiming for this second part of the season? Has the mood changed compared to last season?
Already the maintenance is not done. We start to get out of the water but it's not done yet. Then we have the decisive points to take, as against Bordeaux or Metz, where we have the obligation to take the points. The bonuses will be the matches in Soyaux, or Saint-Etienne and the meeting we will have in Albi. To try to finish in 6th, 7th place. We have not set a goal, we try to do the best we can, to hang as many teams as possible ...
A little early in the year, because we had trouble, we were in a particular context where we had not many victories so it was difficult. So the atmosphere flows from that, it was complicated, everyone was on edge. After that, there is always a good atmosphere in the group.

Do you still continue your career in the Coupe de France, it is always special games to play? There you will face Metz, how do you see this match?
Yes, it's always special games to play because there, we dread everyone, we do not know what can happen. There is often a big surprise in the Coupe de France. After it's special because it's direct elimination. Then that's where we show ourselves the most and that's where we can do beautiful things. There is a little chance for everyone. You have to see the prints every time (laughs).
Already it's Metz so it's an advantage for them because we have the trip, it's their stadium, there will be their supporters. After all is possible, there is no prerogative for one or the other team for the moment. All scenarios are plausible in the Coupe de France. But we have the desire to go further and we would like to receive at home, so skip this step.

Last question, we saw that there was a real rivalry between you and Albi, it's your derby to you? There you narrowly beat them 1-0, you will face them in penultimate day, it is a match which announces already of already as the most intense of the season?
Oh yes it's our derby, like Paris / Juvisy or Lyon / Saint-Etienne. These are two clubs that are very close, it's the same region, both are in D1 and play the maintenance. There is a real fervor around. It's a derby I did not know at all. I have never played matches like that, but they are really special encounters to live, although sometimes it can be mean. It has nothing to do with the other games of the championship.
Yes it may be an intense match. After to see the results there will be just before, if they will not play the maintenance on this match. In addition it is at home. Their stadium is often filled with fervent fans so it's not the same as playing at home. In the first leg we had narrowly beat them, in the Coupe de France, the victory was deserved because we knew how to raise our level of play, to be a little better. But yes I really dread the game of the penultimate day of the championship. We'll see.

Pictures: Mica GB M PhootoRafettes