Football FCVB / Simon Elisor: “We must maintain this confidence…”
If all happiness sometimes happens at the same time, you have to know how to measure these moments and make them last as long as possible. For Simon Elisor, the period is good, with in particular this double scored last Friday at Bastia-Borgo (1-3) which allows the FCVB to stay in contact with Bourg and the others (Concarneau, Annecy a little further), at seven end days. This is the right time to probe the ambition of the top Caladois scorer, before the arrival of Cholet, Friday at Armand-Chouffet, this house where Villefranche must also find the scent of victory.
You come out of a rather surprising victory in Borgo (1-3), a team which had not lost since November 5 at home. Is it a relaxation after your two consecutive losses (Annecy, Saint-Brieuc) at Chouffet?
“Winning there is not easy for anyone. We had a first half where we moved a little for thirty minutes. We weren’t too into it. Then we s “We woke up, we made an impact, we won duels, that gave us a boost. One factor counted: determination. We were able to regain the upper hand, regaining all our qualities.”
You talk about determination. Is that what you missed during your bad January-February period? What is ultimately the determination for an attacker?
“For me, it’s helping the team in the defensive work, not just thinking about scoring goals. For a striker, determination is also found in the calls for the ball, it’s showing a little more bite when you’re in front of goal, going past a defender. It’s those little details that make the difference.”
What would you say to your start to 2022, when goals don’t produce?
“We had a hole in January, collectively. When I didn’t score, I told myself that I still managed to create chances. For a striker, that’s still important. I tried to convince myself that it wouldn’t end. I believed it. And it came back.”
The weight that weighs on an attacker who does not score, how do you experience that?
“Mentally, it’s really hard. You can’t score in training, you doubt a little and it plays in your head when you have to stay strong in these circumstances. Maintaining self-confidence is should be maintained.”
“With Adrian Dabasse, on a real connection, in the game as in everyday life”
The requirements of the coach (Hervé Della Maggiore), have they gone up a notch during this period?
“The coach always had a good speech. He didn’t yell at us especially. He said that he believed in us, that our group had a lot of qualities. He was convinced that it was going to turn out in our favour. Feeling this confidence, it put us all back on the right path.”
In the winter transfer window, the club could have enlisted an experienced striker to expand the group. The choice of the coach to bet even more on you, did you receive it as an additional proof of confidence?
“I don’t really know what happened during this transfer window but I’m sure the coach has kept faith in his attackers. He knows our qualities. He said to himself that one more attacker would not have nothing changed and knew that Dabasse and I were going to get the upper hand.”
Your partner in attack, Adrian Dabasse often cites you as his accomplice. What is your agreement based on?
“He’s my partner in the game and in everyday life, a bit like my big brother.”
And in the game?
“He’s a great striker whose calls free up space for me. He finds me a lot when he has the ball, vice versa. We have a real connection.”
“Helping the team get what we really want”
You have just reached the 10-goal mark with a double at Bastia-Borgo. You are on the list of players nominated for the trophy of the month in National. Looks like it’s turning in your favor, at the right time…
“It’s the right time, indeed. You have to be a hit in March-April in a season like this. I have good stats, I scored my 10 goals but now I want to go further, bis.”
Want to go further, what does that mean: more goals or bring the team more to this podium so close?
“Before my goals, I hope the team will get what we really want. I don’t really want to talk about a podium… But we know what that means for us. We have the squad for it. If I can score more goals, it will only be fun.”
In this last straight line where you could have been pushed away by your competitors on the podium, having restarted the winning machine at Borgo, is this a crucial moment in your season?
“This victory at Borgo was essential. At the end of this trip, there were two possibilities: either we were still going ahead, or we were back in line. Winning there, it did us a lot of good. picks up on Bourg-en-Bresse (4and) and we are not far from third Concarneau, three points away.”
What are the arguments for citing Villefranche as a candidate for the podium today?
“Our collective is united, with quality everywhere. And I repeat, on one of determination.”
At the start of the season, your loan from AC Ajaccio to the FCVB was fueled by what objectives?
“I knew that I was arriving at a good club where I could have playing time. It was my first objective. I wanted to show what I was capable of over a season because in Ajaccio (Ligue 2) then in Sète where I didn’t play much because I was injured (National). There, I’m in a good team where I can express myself more.”
And at the end of the season, is there a desire to return to Ajaccio?
“Frankly, we will see at the end of the season. For the moment, I don’t know where I will go or what I will do.”
“Here, I am very well surrounded by the”Great” of the team…”
You receive Cholet (12and) Friday which has just sunk (1-4) at home against Annecy. Does that mean anything to you?
“Precisely, you have to be wary of this kind of opposition, especially since in National, everyone can beat everyone. Cholet can be totally different from his match against Annecy. Today’s score, frankly , we don’t care. We will have to settle this match as if it were a podium team in front of us.”
Home games haven’t been very successful for you lately…
“We often lead, we get caught up. We end up frustrated. It happens in a season.”
You are the first FCVB scorer to score 10 National goals since the club’s rise in 2018. Is it important for you to make an impression here?
“I didn’t know about this stat! It’s nice. Here, I’m very well surrounded by the “Greats” of the team who put me on the right path, to stay serious, concerned, focused. I think to Jimmy Nirlo. It helped me a lot to cross this course.”
If a former member of the group like Nirlo, precisely, you move a little sometimes, you dismiss his remarks?
“It’s the life of a locker room. It is certain that sometimes some people shout a little more than others. Do we accept? If it is justified, yes. There is no problems. I take the example of Jim Nirlo who only uses calm, intelligent words to move me forward.”
Does the sense of your goals also mean giving something back to those elders who push you?
“It’s the case.”
Ralph NEPLAZ
Local press correspondent.