Wiseless observer of the dam between Carcassonne and Albi, this Saturday afternoon, Julien Seron therefore saw the USC take the ticket to play the national semi-final at the Sports Park on May 10 (7 p.m.). The manager of the Racing Club Narbonnais is already projecting himself with a certain impatience for this long-awaited meeting.
What did you think of the dam between Carcassonne and Albi (USC victory 18-0)?
Carcassonne deserves his victory, his qualification. They were more realistic. Now there are necessarily lessons to be learned on our side for the semi-final next Saturday. I was surprised because Albi lacks realism and yet they get many opportunities. I suspected that this team could play the spoilsports, but they have acts of play where they can better negotiate things. Like this penalty at 10-0 in front of the posts, they play it quickly. They failed to manage momentum. Albi was in the game all the same.
Have you found the USC in control?
Clearly. This is the feeling that I had at the final whistle, they were in control, without feeling them worried. They mastered their subject. This is the right word for this quarter -final.
Romain Manchia told us that “it was written”, is it also your feeling?
(Large smile) Yes, it’s true. Despite everything, I did not neglect this Albigensian team. But it was a bit written that we find ourselves in the semi-finals. But this notion of derby is anecdotal on a semi-final. This is not on this that we are going to go get an additional soul. It is above all a semi-final in front of a team that knows us very well.
This notion of derby is anecdotal in the semi-finals.
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At a press conference in Domec, Mehadji Tidjini emphasized the fact that it was in Narbonne. Is the pressure all the more on Racing?
I think Carcassonne has the pressure as much as we have. Now it’s how you manage and you live this pressure. It is a final phase match, whether it is a great game. We prepare this meeting above all mentally, because that’s what it is played out above all. On apprehension, state of mind, the way of managing emotions. This is what matters to me. Racing must be Racing on this semi-final. The mental dimension will be different from other matches.
Will the defeat at the Sports Park on April 12 (13-17) be a motivation lever?
Inevitably, we want to have another face than this derby lost in the park. To show other things, to be more masters of our rugby and it is on this point that we are keen to show another face.
Having an additional week before this semi-final is a real advantage?
I don’t know because in a final phase match, the cards are rebatted. It’s quite secondary. The mental state allows you to transcend yourself. So having or not playing the weekend before is not a performance factor. For our part, we regenerated the group that has experienced seeds on certain players. So management was the key word on individual cases. Afterwards, I am convinced that Carcassonne will not be more tired for this semi-final.
By knowing the fervor of the Narbonne public, Racing necessarily has an additional force?
We know very well that we need him and that he will answer present. We need to take it on with us and that’s what we will try to do. Clearly, I am convinced that they will be behind us to push hard and it is good because we need it.
