Nice-Première introduced FC Carros, playing in PHA (https://www.nicepremium.fr/article.php3?id_article=194). A few hours before the big night, we asked President Stéphane Monvieux, Captain Patrick M’Bayi, and goalkeeper Manu Satragno how they felt about this event.
Vincent Trinquat: Tell us, President, what this match in Rhone-Crussol represents for you and for the club.
Stéphane Monvieux: The Board and I have been working together for three years. This match is the fruit of our labor. It’s a pride to be the president of a team with such a remarkable mentality. There is genuine solidarity among the players. They all want to win for Anthony Rimbert, their teammate who is seriously injured.
I repeat, it’s a pride for the entire club. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario when I took over the presidency three years ago. It’s wonderful in a president’s life. This week I tried to think of everything to leave nothing to chance. And then sponsors have come on board. We’ve been able to provide tracksuits. The entire club is rewarded because all the teams, the reserve, and the youth benefit from the run in the Coupe de France. It’s a beautiful story. I have three words as a motto: RCS. Rigor, Competence, and Solidarity. It’s essential to respect these three priorities. And because we respected them, we are here.
VT: You were present during the draw. Explain to us what you felt and the setting in which this draw took place.
SM: At the time of the draw, I was disappointed. We wanted a high-level team in Carros. We would probably have been beaten, but we would have celebrated with our supporters to honor our journey. Afterwards, we analyzed. Upon reflection, we thought that in the past, we had been eliminated at this stage of the competition twice. Rhône-Crussol is a club within our reach, so we have a chance to make club history. In any case, we will do everything to win and we have done everything to have no regrets. OGC Nice lent us their grass training fields so that we could get used to the Valence stadium’s lawn.
VT: How many people from Carros will travel to Ardèche? Do you sense excitement around the club?
SM: There are four buses of supporters offered by the municipality, which we thank. They will leave at 2 PM from CES of Carros. Others will travel by car. I think there will be at least 150 people from Carros in Valence. We are preparing banners, face paints. We want it to be a big celebration even though it’s not at home.
VT: Do you have a message for your opponents?
SM: All together let’s fully experience football for our supporters even if Carros leaves victorious!!! Both of our clubs have had a great run in the Coupe de France so why not have a party together after the match? The main thing is that the spectacle is beautiful for supporters from both sides because I assume what we are experiencing, they experience too.
VT: Patrick, Manu, how is the morale of the troops a few days before this trip to Rhône-Crussol? Do you feel any tension?
Manu: The morale and confidence are there. That’s the essence and main strength of our group. Additionally, for this match, we have a very special motivation: indeed, our friend and teammate Anthony Rhimbert was seriously injured during the last match. We decided with the staff that in case of victory we will give him 3000 euros out of the 7500 euros offered to the group if victorious, which equates to him 3 months of salary during his absence before he can work again.
Patrick: We are somewhat affected by Anthony Rhimbert’s injury, last Sunday, who has a broken ankle and a severe dislocation. To date, we are a bit more affected than motivated but it will come as soon as the training starts.
There is no particular tension, even if the fact of getting closer to the end of the competition (for us) generates a bit of stress in my case.
