Le Plessis-Robinson (France) (AFP)

We must "stop looking at the Saracens and their supremacy", insisted Thursday the captain of Racing 92 Teddy Iribaren convinced that his team is "capable" of beating the reigning European champions on Saturday in the semi-final at Nanterre.

Question: Is it the excitement that dominates before facing the Saracens?

Answer: "We have won the right to play a semi-final at home and to dream a little more, so we can not wait for this match to begin".

Q: It's hard to find a loophole in the game of Saracens.

Your opinion?

A: "They have a strong squad. They are just at the same level as they were last year. They lost a few players and they don't have as big a squad as last year but that doesn't make them feel good. sorely lacking for the start of the season because the bodies are not too tired ".

Q: Is winning the European Cup the main objective of Racing 92?

A: "This is the main objective in the sense that we are at the start of the season. There is no star on the jersey and I think that Jacky Lorenzetti (the club president), him the first, very much wants the club to be European champion ".

Q: This year the European Cup semi-finals are Franco-English and there is no Irish club.

Are French clubs and English clubs superior?

A: "No, the Irish are not below. There was a supremacy of the English and the Irish and it is not however that the Top 14 was below. (Before) I had the impression that the French clubs played more in the Top 14 than the European Cup. Today, it is just as important. The French clubs have been able to acclimatize to the refereeing which is different. They play the Coupe d 'hard. Europe and it works ".

Q: Racing 92 have only won two of their eight meetings with the Saracens.

Is this your pet peeve?

A: "I played them twice and I won once (30-10 on November 17, 2019 in Nanterre) so I don't know ... The club lost in the final against them four years ago but I don't think the club takes the Saracens for its pet peeve.

Q: Can this victory during the group stage serve as a benchmark when the Saracens were greatly reduced by absences?

A: "After we lost there, not by much, against a full team (January 24-27, 2020, editor's note) ... We will stop looking at the Saracens and their supremacy. We are able to win and we will do everything for it. There are not too many questions to ask ".

Q: After your three victories in three matches in all competitions, do you see areas for improvement?

A: "The European Cup matches are different. The one in Clermont (in the quarter-finals), it was Franco-French with French referees. Saturday it will be a so different match ... There will be a big volume of play. This is really going to be a first big, big test for us. We will know if we are physically ready to take the shock. Honestly, everyone wants to play this game and I am not very worried. Obviously there are. The game system, the automatisms are not yet perfect. But if there is the state of mind and we manage to put our game in place, it there won't be a lot of worries ".

Q: Are you already feeling strong?

A: "The group hasn't changed too much, neither has the game system. We have gained that trust and we are trying to keep it with us. For now, it is working for us. We are trying to have the least amount of confidence. possible doubt ".

Interview during a press point.

© 2020 AFP