He was able to wait patiently before taking his chance. Arriving at Le Gym in summer 2017, Racine Coly worked in the shadows before getting his chance in Europe and then in L1. He has started the last 3 league games and the Senegalese full-back gave an update on Le Gym. With three days to go until the trip to Dijon.

Racine, what is the mood amongst the squad after two consecutive defeats?

The two defeats are a bit difficult, but we aren’t dropping our heads, we remain concentrated. We leave the games that have gone behind us. We know that Dijon are a good side, it won’t be easy, but we go to battle for the 3 points. Against Toulouse, we gave everything, we played well. If you look at the match again, you see that they only had one chance and they put it away. We lacked a bit of realism, it will come back. We need to win to lift us up.

Are you already thinking about the Round of 32 of the Europa League which will take place next Thursday at the Allianz?

Of course. Even if we are all focussed on Dijon, we keep the match against Lokomotiv Moscou in a corner of our heads, because it is very, very important. We will play at home, we need to give our all to put ourselves in the right conditions.

You now have 3 starts in L1. How do you feel?

At the moment, good, because I have begun to play. When I arrived, it was a bit difficult, I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t in the squad, I was with the Reserves… But I knuckled down. I waited for my time. It’s not finished, you have to continue, but I feel good. My teammates, my coach and all of the staff support me, help me a lot. I think I have done well in my first league matches. Now, I need to work and to keep my concentration. I am not thinking about stepping back: I am looking forward.

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