We had been talking about it for a while with the coach, but we had to wait for the right moment. I had to be ready. Physically, I feel good because I have been exercising regularly since the start of the season; mentally too, but I needed to find some sensations again. This is why I have been training more diligently for two or three weeks.
And your opinion on your performance? Did you have a little apprehension before the meeting?
No, I've lived with pressure throughout my career, I know what it's like. And everyone makes mistakes, I had no fears. Now, I was still surprised to find my bearings so quickly, I thought it would take me more time. I think I played a satisfactory match, which is what you expect from a goalkeeper. It's a bit of a shame to concede two goals at the end of the match. Maybe I could have gone out on the first one and on the second one the ball was deflected. But above all I remember our four goals and our current dynamic.
Are you two points from the top 6?
So everything can change quickly in a championship. But I think we don't emphasize enough the work of Jérôme Arpinon. Tactically, humanly, he does a lot of good. We suffered for several months, but the work put in, his philosophy and the discipline he established paid off.
Coming back to your unexpected return between the poles, who put you back in the stirrup?
In fact, as soon as I arrived (Editor's note: in mid-August), Mohamed (Editor's note: Hakem, the sports director of Excel) spoke to me about this possibility. Let’s just say that this sparked some thoughts.
Did you miss putting on the gloves?
I admit yes. Especially since I never really meant that I was stopping my career. It happened like that, with the Covid, when I was officiating in Namur, then I had the opportunity to train goalkeepers in the Grand Duchy as well as at Union and Virton. But when someone wants to give you another chance, you don't remain indifferent.
Jérôme Arpinon also mentions the possibility of counting you among the candidates for the position of goalkeeper throughout the next season…
Effectively. I'm turning 39 (Editor's note: at the end of the year), but I'm going to take the time to think about it.
“They opened the door for me, maybe I shouldn’t…”
But if you choose to take on the gloves for more than a simple one-shot, we imagine that it won't be to settle for an understudy role?
It's clear. I remain a competitor. Now we will have to see what the data will be, also see if Virton brings in a goalkeeper with No. 1 status. We are not there yet.
Would playing again also mean ceding your role as goalkeeper coach?
Yes, logically. But these are questions that must be asked of the coach and the sports management, not of me. It's up to them to deal with this now. They opened the door for me, maybe I shouldn't (laughs). It’s football, passion usually ends up taking over…
