2024-11-02 23:16:00
Frustration. A word that Union Saint-Gilloise knows all too well this season. If there is nothing too badly done in the ranking, the Unionists are starting to count the points lost in matches where they could have hoped for better. And it shouldn’t be too much on the players’ minds. After the point lost against Mechelen, Sébastien Pocognoli answered questions from Eby Brouzakis.
The coach had mixed feelings after the meeting: “We’re frustrated and besides, it’s a fairly paradoxical season. We are frustrated with great away matches where normally we should be happy to come away with a point. We are disappointed after Fenerbahce, after Standard, after Bruges. And it’s great matches every time. Afterwards, I talked about it a lot: we can have victories, draws, defeats, but for me, attitude remains the most important thing. And every time, I am proud of my team.“
This Saturday, Mechelen managed to equalize in added time with around three minutes of play remaining and just after an interruption of the match caused by beer throwing from the Mechelen supporters: “That, for me, is the reason today, and it’s an extra-sporting reason. Afterwards, we can go into detail and say to ourselves that we are conceding on a stopped phase, again. But for me it worked. Yes we could have made it 2-0, that’s for sure. But here it is, I find that today I don’t have much to reproach the players, really honestly.”
It’s a little disturbing to think that an act of hooliganism potentially influences the outcome of the match: “It breaks the dynamic and I talked about it earlier. I think that it positively influences the team which is looking for the goal, because we were well in the match, and we certainly did not need an interruption which can serve as a timeout in basketball to the team that must score. So we used it to not make our players lose focus. But there is necessarily a moral ascendancy. I experienced it as a player so yes, there is certainly a little advantage for the team that has to push.“
In the meantime, the status quo continues in the ranking: “We are not moving forward but we are not very far from the top, we are not very very far from the bottom either. It’s a bit of a positive thing about this strange season for a lot of clubs. Except that among this mix of results I think we also have to look at the way we play. I repeat it and that is positive and fortunately we are holding together, so that gives me hope that the season can still go very well.“
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**Interview with Sébastien Pocognoli, Coach of Union Saint-Gilloise**
**Interviewer (Eby Brouzakis):** Sébastien, thank you for joining us today. After that dramatic match against Mechelen, how are you feeling about the team’s performance?
**Sébastien Pocognoli:** Thank you for having me, Eby. Honestly, I’m feeling quite frustrated. We had a solid match and performed well for most of it, but to concede an equalizer in added time is disappointing, especially when we could have secured all three points.
**Eby Brouzakis:** It seems like this season has been full of ups and downs—what’s your take on the overall performance of the team so far?
**Sébastien Pocognoli:** You’re right, it’s been a paradoxical season. We’ve had some impressive away matches where normally a point would feel satisfactory, but in the context of our recent games against teams like Fenerbahce, Standard, and Bruges, the outcomes have weighed heavily on us. It’s a tough balance to manage.
**Eby Brouzakis:** You mentioned being proud of your team’s attitude. Can you elaborate on that?
**Sébastien Pocognoli:** Absolutely. No matter the results—whether we win, draw, or lose—the attitude of the players is paramount. I’ve been proud of the resilience and effort the team has shown week in and week out. Their commitment to playing well and striving for improvement is what I value most.
**Eby Brouzakis:** Looking ahead, what do you think the team needs to focus on to turn things around?
**Sébastien Pocognoli:** Consistency is key. We need to convert our strong performances into results. Maintaining our positive attitude and learning from these close calls will be crucial as we prepare for our next matches. We must keep pushing forward, believing in ourselves and each other.
**Eby Brouzakis:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Sébastien. Best of luck with the upcoming games!
**Sébastien Pocognoli:** Thank you, Eby. I appreciate it!
