Fayçal Belkoussa (Toulouse Métropole FC): “There is no favorite”
Decisive scorer in the previous round, the midfielder of the TMFC evokes the meeting against Montauban (6 p.m.).
Two weeks ago against Brive (1-0), you scored the winning goal from the penalty spot. How did you handle this moment?
Since the start of the season, I have been designated for this exercise. So far, I have succeeded in all four of my attempts. Obviously, in this Cup match, in the last moments, there was pressure. But I knew how to stay in my bubble when it came time to strike.
How do you approach this new meeting at home against Montauban (R2)?
Personally, this will be my first experience for an 8th lap. And I think it’s the same for my teammates. It’s not easy for everyone. So, of course, we want to extend the adventure. But a chosen one is certain, there is no favorite. However, we will once again play at home. Since the start of the season, there have been a lot of people coming to see us play. It’s good for the club and for us it’s clearly an additional motivation.
With hindsight, how do you judge this journey in the Coupe de France?
This season, we left with a group in reconstruction, quite young. We all get along very well. It is important to be able to count on this beautiful cohesion. But we take the matches one after the other with this desire, whatever the opponent, to always remain serious and diligent.
You are also one of the “oldest” of the team.
Indeed, I arrived for the 2017-2018 season. I also have a thought for Fred Ouvret who loved me a lot when he was the coach of the team.
And your younger brother is also playing alongside you.
I’m 25, he’s 23. I’m an attacking midfielder. He is a defensive midfielder. It’s nice to live this season and especially this Cup course with him.
Since the start of the season, the team has practically linked games every weekend. On the physical level, there is not too much damage in the workforce?
In this regard, things are going pretty well. And then we are lucky to have a fairly large group where each player brings something more to the team. There really is healthy competition. And that makes everyone progress. Collected by Charles-Henri Oriol