Marc Keller: “I want warriors”
Marc Keller came back from Amiens feeling angry. Ahead of Nice’s visit to the Meinau this Saturday, Racing’s chairman calls for a collective reality check.
Chairman, what mindset were you in as you came back from Amiens?
MK: After the match against St-Etienne (0–1), I was disappointed. After Amiens, I’m angry. Everyone knew about the history of our meetings with them over the past four years. We can’t say that we weren’t warned, we knew exactly what was waiting for us. And it all went to waste. In a way, that match confirmed what I feel. When we’re good, we’re not certain of winning but when we’re not good, we’re certain of losing. We’ve now got four matches left. Let’s be clear: what I saw at Amiens in terms of lack of commitment is unacceptable.
With just 4 points taken from a possible 27 in the last 9 games, Racing still hold a small lead over the relegation play-off place and the automatic relegation places…
MK: It would be a serious mistake to carry on counting on the failures of others. At this point, we still have our fate in our hands but we’ll be throwing it away if we reproduce a match like the one at Amiens. We’re still in a position that allows us to envisage safety but it’s a very fragile one. It requires unwavering investment from now on, from everyone. That’s what I expect and that’s what I call for with all my strength next Saturday. We’ve got four matches left to consolidate several years’ work and to continue moving Racing forward.
What attitude are you expecting from your team against opponents in great form who are well-positioned to book their place in Europe next season?
MK: Nice are one of the best teams in the league at the moment. They’ve only lost one of their last 8 fixtures and that was narrowly against PSG (1–2). That says it all. Against Montpellier (1–0), in a very important game, they showed their quality. Nice want Europe and they’ll come to the Meinau to win. Against opponents of that calibre, only a fighting attitude and utmost togetherness will be tolerable in my eyes. I’m counting on a collective reality check in order to produce the kind of match that I’m hoping for: a match played by warriors and nothing else.
[Translated from: http://www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr/actualites/marc-keller-je-veux-des-guerriers]
