Forest (Dijon): “Angoulême, my second favorite city”
Direction Brest, in 2017, to take charge of the women’s team in D2 in 2017; then Dijon, last summer, in women’s D1, which receives Soyaux this Saturday.
A homecoming for the 52-year-old Burgundian, a native of Creusot (Saône-et-Loire), who took his first steps on the Dijon bench. And who intends to confirm that…
Direction Brest, in 2017, to take charge of the women’s team in D2 in 2017; then Dijon, last summer, in women’s D1, which receives Soyaux this Saturday.
A homecoming for the 52-year-old Burgundian, a native of Creusot (Saône-et-Loire), who took his first steps on the Dijon bench. And who intends to confirm that his club (8and), winner in the first leg in Charente (1-2), a Soyaux winner (10and) in the hierarchy of the female elite.
You succeeded Yannick Chandioux, who left for Montpellier this summer. At the moment, you are doing just as well with an eighth place and two games behind.
Christopher Forest. “At the break last year, Dijon had thirteen points, we are at twelve. On a two games late. We will try to grab points to get to maintenance as quickly as possible.
Is that the only goal?
The club has only been in D1 for four years. It is structured. We try to grow with our training. By maintaining ourselves quickly, we will be able to prepare for next season and launch our little young people from U19.
How did you come to Dijon?
It was quick. The president called me. I went to meet him for an interview. A week later, he called me to tell me that I was the coach. I was super happy because I was coming from D2. It’s another world the D1. It allows you to improve. You play Lyon, PSG. In D2, it is very rare. Even if the championship has improved. In addition the D1 is televised. Dijon is a club that will have medium-term ambitions with new training facilities.
Is it also a homecoming for you?
I am originally from Burgundy. I played at the circle of Dijon in D2. It’s good to see friends again and to see that the club has changed a lot. On a set want to grow.
This is your second experience in women’s football. Have you switched for good?
Brest was a good learning curve. Discovering the D2 was a good opportunity when I did not know the female foot even if I followed it. Managing girls and boys has nothing to do, communication is different. The extra-sporty is a little more complicated to manage for girls. But we have fun with the girls. They are bumpkins. They don’t cheat, like boys.
You accepted to beat Soyaux in the first leg. What had made the difference?
We knew that we had to answer on aggressiveness. We scored first and had a good first half. We had been equalized but we had managed to score just behind. The regret is that we were scared because we have four or five clear chances. Soyaux a little means but a real mentality. We expect that on Saturday. They need points.
Are there any players you fear?
There is Bourgouin who is one of the very good players. Behind, there is Siga Tandia. They don’t have exceptional players but good ball players, especially up front, like Lahmari. Soyaux has recruited a fast player from Auxerre (Diakité). Knowing that it’s been a month since we’ve played because of the covid. In terms of rhythm, we do not know how it will happen.
We have the impression that Dijon has gone ahead in the hierarchy.
We hope it will last. We will play three matches in eight days but the important thing is the one against Soyaux. We’ll see.
The strength of your team is its defensive solidity?
On a few goals (21). Afterwards, we score few (9). We must be the worst attack (note: penultimate after Issy 3 goals). This is where we need to improve.
How do you explain the heavy defeat against Saint-Etienne (4-0), your only misstep?
We saw each other too handsome. We went to win at Issy (0-2) and we received Saint-Etienne who had lost at home. We went through. They were marked after two minutes. This match stuck in our throats but put us back on the right track.
You also held PSG (0-0) in the Coupe de France?
Yes. Had opportunities, Paris too. My babysitter worked miracles. We made a match of warriors even if we are disappointed to be eliminated. It gives confidence.
Are you still coming back to Charente?
I come from time to time. I have the mother of my children who is there. I lived the first time eight years then the second time five years and I take care of sports studies. It’s my second favorite city with Brest.
Do you follow ACFC?
OUI bien sur. I kept good contacts at the club, with the president. I am happy with their rise to N2 and that they are playing at the top of the table. I had the chance to know the National as a player and to fill the Stade Lebon with 5-6000 seats. People are waiting for that. There is an audience. Even if it is true that rugby has taken its place”
Soyaux a little means but a real mentality. We expect that on Saturday. They need points.
ASJ: a disappointment to swallow
After their elimination in the Coupe de France on green carpet, the Sojaldiciennes, who had beaten Nantes in 8th on penalties, will try to swallow their disappointment today in Dijon. It will not be easy against a team which had dominated them in the first leg (1-2) and which occupied a better place in the standings (8and). And this while in the league Soyaux did not take off from tenth place after a series of three losses against Reims, Montpellier and Paris FC.