After qualifying narrowly against the MHSC, on a dazzling achievement signed Rose Lavaud and instigated by Audrey Chaumette, ASSE is preparing to face another of the big stables of the D1, Paris Saint-Germain. Before this shock, we contacted the coach Etienne, Hervé Didier to talk about this game and his departure at the end of the season.


Hearts of Foot - So I heard the news of your departure, and I understand that it is partly because of the management of the women's section beyond your contribution? Finally it's your decision, not the club's? Or by mutual agreement?

Hervé Didier - Yes, I am not the management of women, it is especially the training conditions that I was offered for next year, which did not suit me. It is expected next year that we train and play on the same field. Something that is pretty incredible. The smallest club in France protects its field of honor to make these championship matches and nobody trains on it. And we did five workouts on it so I decided not to go on because I struggled with this problem all year long. We started to go there in January, because the terrain in winter is not really practicable, because of the cold, the snow etc. So all that I do not want to start it again one season again because that m used and I'm tired of fighting against some people who do not want to listen. It cost me because it's not an easy decision to take after 9 years with the women's section, it's something that I liked. To leave my group is a heartbreak but here I am I could not continue in these conditions and I have the luxury of being able to stop because I am a teacher of physical education. There for the moment I'm a little tired, I do not want to leave [for this adventure] for now, but it can change.
Now I want to finish the season with the girls in the best possible way, to make this semi-final [of the Coupe de France] and especially to go for a final, it would leave in the best conditions but it's not bad when even.

Hearts of Football - To talk about your game tomorrow, we know that this "feat" in quotation marks, to beat the PSG, you already realized in 2013?

H.D. - Yes yes yes it was realized in 2013, at home with a young team and it was the beginning of Paris Saint-Germain, who was strong with Farid Benstiti as coach. So we have already done it but may be at a lower level. We did it against Montpellier [this year] the previous round so we say there is a small chance even if this time we say that it may be even more difficult because they will be wary, Paris will be attentive. After leading 3-0 against Guingamp and getting back 3-3, they will probably be more vigilant, it will complicate us a little more the task but we thought not to get there so now it's a bonus and we will try to 'go a little further if the conditions allow us.

Football Hearts - Are there things you will insist on tomorrow?

H.D. - Yes if you want we played two games against Paris in the league, which allow us to get an idea. We saw their game on the halls, with Lawrence in particular. So what I'm going to say to girls is in the mindset, in the mindset and it's the group in my opinion that can make the difference, not the individuals on our team. It's really solidarity, self-sacrifice, all these values ​​that will make the difference. We know the strengths of PSG, we know what happened in the league so we will try to work on it and all that cost us goals against this team. What I said especially is to be ready to fight because a semifinal is something exceptional, we must not have regrets because a lot of girls have already experienced this stage . Every two years we come in half, 2011, 2013, 2015, once was in the final and once we won. It's still quite special moments, we must take advantage and the ultimate it would be to live a new final. It is deserved.

Football Hearts - We also know that players and players do not react in the same way to this kind of situation, girls tend to demoralize more easily, you have given them a specific speech about your choice, that can we say early compared to the end of the championship and view the current situation in the standings?

H.D. - They have not been demoralized because they have been demoralized since December / January, when they moved to this land. So I'm not going to hide behind that, but the results in January are partly due to that because the girls felt the lack of consideration, telling them "we put you on this ground, make do you". This is the feeling we had, even if the club may not be what he wanted to highlight but it is what has hurt the girls in any case. Because we had a good start to the championship. And my departure, I wanted to announce it to be honest with the girls, so that they know where they are. Recruitment starts a little bit now so agents are starting to come and it's to be honest with everyone. But the girls and I, we will not let go on this end of season, because we do not want to finish on a complicated season. We will continue to fight to acquire support as quickly as possible. I do not doubt girls' support within the group.Football Hearts - Is this also due to being always on the edge of the relegation zone?

H.D. - It is important for the club that the women remain in D1 because it is still an important image. Going down that way would hurt the women's project in Saint-Etienne. Everyone wants this team to stay in D1. We did it, we had very, very difficult moments. There was a year when we had to draw in our last game against Montpellier and we did it. So we lack regularity but that's what we asked was not money, it's acceptable conditions to train. It was difficult to accept this change by the girls and despite everything we are in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France and we will stay I'm sure because we will do everything for. And I hope that my departure will serve the women so that they can move forward, and that the club changes the way it works. Girls deserve a better consideration.

Soccer Hearts - Do not you think it's up to you, the women's section to put it forward, to promote it, videos, communication ultimately to improve its popularity and thus increase the morale of the troops and the consideration of the club?

H.D. - Yes yes surely, after it is mostly an aid with the com Saint-Etienne and it is not always easy to do. We would like to have a little more visibility but the com is mainly focused on boys in the club, even if there are efforts made on this point of view. After that, it's difficult for players who are young to promote their team even if they like this club. Every time we move we have groups of supporters who come to encourage us and girls are sometimes surprised by this craze. It is true that we should get to surf a little more about this popularity.

Football Hearts - From the beginning of the season I felt that it would be left or double for you?

HD - Yes, because we never know how it's going to go, we're still waiting to move forward, not necessarily financially, but what's happening this year is just like what we have lived in construction. Joining a professional club boy, it's not very simple either, even if it can bring aids. In addition, there is the 2019 World Cup coming and the club to show interest in a beautiful image of women, because it is inevitably something that will develop.

Football Hearts - Tomorrow is perhaps one of the only satisfactions you will keep, regardless of the outcome or outcome of the game?

H.D. - Already being in the semifinals is a satisfaction, after we will do everything to go to the final because it would be the best. But already when we played Montpellier, nobody predicted this victory. Already it is a great satisfaction to have passed the MHSC, and this level there and arrive in the semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain. This is only the bonus we live and we will try to live it fully.