MAINTENANCE. TFC: his relationship with Garande, his dream of Ligue 1, his future in Toulouse … Stijn Spierings lets go
Essential cog of the TFC since his arrival in October 2020, Stijn Spierings has agreed to confide in the end of the approaching season. Fleece colored on the back, it is with a big smile that the Dutchman delivered addressing pell-mell the difference in management between Patrice Garande and Philippe Montanier, the idea of playing in Ligue 1 as well as his future in the City Pink.
In recent weeks we have seen many smiles on the faces of Toulouse. Is the group having fun right now?
I believe everyone is very happy. Anyway I am (laughs). When you are a footballer, our happiness is to win matches and even if the last match (at Grenoble, 2-0) was not incredible, we still won. And I always say that a winning team is a happy team. It’s simple.
Seen from the outside, you seem unbeatable, is that also your opinion?
We only lost two games and the team spirit is very strong. We know we are very hard to beat. We don’t need to stress about it. Everyone trusts each other in the team, it makes us even stronger.
What has changed from last season?
First the tactics. Today we play in 4-3-3 and it’s a system that is much more suited to my game. I love it. Then we have a very good connection on the ground with everyone. Finally, the coach speaks English. For me it’s super important, I get on very well with him. Last year was a bit different for me because even though I played almost every game, it was more… (he hesitates), harder. Here is. This year, every morning when I come to train I’m happy to be there.
What are the differences between Patrice Garande and Philippe Montanier?
With our current coach we talk a lot more. Especially after games but also during the week. We discuss how we want to play, he tells me what he thinks of me and even if it’s negative we talk about it. There is no unsaid. And when it’s positive we talk about it too (to smile). It’s truly pleasent. Last year, I don’t remember having a single conversation with the coach. It’s a huge difference. Like I said, even though I played every game last season, I had no connection with the coach.
The fact that Philippe Montanier speaks English must necessarily help…
Of course. When he speaks French I understand him but it’s difficult for me to hold a conversation. And then we have a lot of new players coming in so it’s really great to have a coach who speaks English.
Did you transfer to French?
Yes, I am fine. When the coach speaks in the locker room, I understand 90% of what he says. There are times when I’m a little afraid to speak French because English is easier for me and easier for you to understand me. (he smiles).
What does the prospect of playing in Ligue 1 next year represent for you?
Came here to ride with the TFC. It motivates to think that we can play at the highest national level. So obviously it occupies our minds but we avoid projecting ourselves too much. We still have to focus on our season. And even if we get closer and we send that it’s our season, our moment, we don’t want to be disappointed. We learned the lessons of last year. So of course, we all want to play against Paris, Lyon, Nice… but each chooses in his time, first we have to win the climb. And this summer, once we get there we can think about next season.
So in the locker room you don’t talk about Ligue 1 at all?
Of course it happens to us sometimes. But we must first focus on Ligue 2, finish the job and then we can talk about it.
Your contract in Toulouse ends next year (in June 2023), do you want to continue the adventure at TFC?
I’m very happy here and I want to play at the highest level so obviously if we go up I want to stay. But it’s not all up to me, it’s also the club. It’s not because I’m going to say “I want to stay”, that it will be the case, it doesn’t work like that. We’ll see, I’m not thinking about it yet. I’m happy here, everyone else is.
We’ll see this summer…
Yes, you never know, it’s the foot you do not know what will happen. But I’m really happy here, my wife and my children too.
You now live in the city center of Toulouse, do you like it?
Yes yes it’s great. At the very beginning I was in the periphery but it was too far. I had to drive quite a bit to come to training, etc. Now that I am in the center, I can do everything by walking in this beautiful city. I’m not going to complain about it.
You will be able to come to training on a bike, like Mikkel Desler…
(Laughs) Yes, I already have a scooter, the same as Brecht (Dejaegere), it’s really cool. But it’s raining right now. I will come with the spring.
Finally, everyone knew Stijn Spierings the player, but no one had heard of your acting skills… (He participated in the first episode of the UltraViolet series on Youtube)
(He is laughing) Did you like it or not? It was fun doing that. It changes us.
And Branco is actually better than you at Fifa?
(He pretends to be shocked) Not at all. You can ask him, if we play 100 games, I will win 100 times.