On the eve of moving to Toulouse on behalf of the sixteenth final of the Coupe de la Ligue (21:05), technician Lorient Mickael Landreau came back on the importance of this meeting for his group. Like the first two rounds in this competition, the coach of Merlus will give playing time to those who have less.
Mickaël, how important do you attribute to this League Cup meeting in Toulouse?
Good importance. For our group, for the club, the first two rounds were very rewarding. I am very happy to play this game in Toulouse, although I would have preferred a better draw at home. But for the workforce, the cohesion of the group, it's great. For example, when I see where Julien Ponceau and Illan Meslier are, it's also because there were these stages Coupe de la Ligue. It's a very interesting competition for us.
Will it be an opportunity to give playing time to those who have less?
In this season, yes. I want to continue in the Coupe de la Ligue with respect to our squad, for the group. It allows for playing time. We know that the priority is the championship, but that does not prevent us from preparing the best possible match, as in the previous two rounds. When we want to give playing time, when we do rotations, the longer you stay in the Cup, the better.
Do you expect a lot from some of your players who play less and will have the opportunity to speak on Wednesday?
Frankly, the boys are pleasant everyday and positive in the work and are in a progression. I just want them to express themselves, show their talent, their ability to do things, as in the first two rounds, while being in a collective project. We want to put them in the best conditions for them to be happy to play that game.
The FCL has the objective to go up in Ligue 1. Can you play all the competitions thoroughly?
It all depends on the choices I make, in my life as a player and coach I have always been a competitor. To live an epic in Cup is always interesting. After that, there are choices that we make according to the period, priorities and what we want to do with the group. That's why the first two rounds had a very positive effect on the dynamics of the group. It's to continue.
Is it important, too, to meet a Ligue 1 team to measure the progress of the club and the team to do?
Not especially. I prefer to qualify ( laughs ). We will play Toulouse, as last year we played Angers in the Coupe de France (FCL qualification).
> The group . The coach Lorientais should leave some of his elements at rest Wednesday night. Jimmy Cabot and Jonathan Delaplace, in the recovery phase, will not be moving. Cabot is expected to return Saturday in Beziers, in the league (15 h).