At the Meinau Stadium in Strasbourg,
“Let me love Europe with my friends, I’m not in the mood to take my torches from me!” The Strasbourg head sings on Diam’s tube. Cries his joy. At the foot of the stands, the players of the To race are dancing. This late evening is beautiful to watch at La Meinau. At the peak of the victory achieved a few seconds earlier, against reindeer (2-1).
With this new success at the heart of an already incredible season, the Alsatians extended their right to dreams. A year after fighting to the end for their maintenance, they are in the race to secure a European qualifier. After 33 days of Competition 1the partners of Dimitri Liénard, fourth, have exactly the same number of points as their victims of the evening (3rd) and Monaco (5th).
What makes them turn their heads? “You have to use these moments and keep your feet on the ground”, the captain quickly nuances. Like his partners or his coach, he does not venture too far into the ambition field. As if the word had been passed internally not to talk about Europe. No, the chosen language element is rather not to set specific goals. “We play to win without too much pressure. We don’t look at the classification,” supports midfielder Jeanricner Bellegarde. “We are not a limit,” Liénard continues.
“This team has grown enormously”
Exactly, where are the boundaries of this RC Strasbourg? After the draws were allowed at the end of the game in Reims (1-1), Troyes (1-1) or against Lyon (1-1), the mental aspect could have been an answer. The performance against Rennes on Wednesday wiped out this observation. Just when the Alsatians were at their worst, after Terrier’s equalizer (1-1.54th) and almost 50 minutes behind the ball, they reacted. And how !
“Our last half hour was really impressive”, welcome Julien Stephan, yet of a measured nature. The Strasbourg coach was proud of his group and wanted to say the same after this victory over his old club. “Discipline, generosity, mental quality, quality of play… This team has grown a lot,” he still appreciated, summing it up simply: “I loved watching them play.”
The technician is not alone. The La Meinau crowd celebrated its players for bringing it almost unexpected happiness this season. Such as during the offensive festivals of autumn and early winter against Metz (3-0), Lorient (4-0) or Bordeaux (5-2). But not alone. Since this period, the inhabitants of Strasbourg have gained in strength. Also the third Ligue 1 attack (55 goals, such as OM) knows how to defend. The Racingmen have conceded just six goals in their last eleven games.
“We have a team of crazy, crazy people”
Better yet, the teammates of Kevin Gameiro no more losing. Not at all. We now have to go back to the end of January and this crazy scenario in Bordeaux (4-3) to find a misstep. That is eleven games without the slightest defeat, an unprecedented series in Ligue 1. With a few clients on the bill, such as Lyon (1-1), Monaco (1-0) or Nice (0-0). “We had already succeeded, but in my chat I had again asked to increase the performance level tonight,” continues Julien Stéphan, who was served. By enduring a quick goal (4th, Diallo) then fifty minutes without giving up much and finally thirty last minutes of furious madness. With the crossbar twice then hit this liberating goal by Ajorque (2-1, 77th).
“We have a team of crazy people. Who does not let go with an exemplary frame of mind. You can come to training every day to see it,” continues Dimitri Liénard, the perfect symbol of this dedication against Rennes on Wednesday. The captain played “sick with the belly in bulk” in the first period, before making way for Anthony Caci at halftime.
“You have to enjoy the present moment […] This Racing has everything that makes a great team”, concludes Julien Stéphan. “I don’t want to put any limits on these players. Neither does La Meinau. The headline has all its songs for next season. “Tonight is the European Cup…”
