Clermont coach Pascal Gastien expressed his feeling of sadness after the relegation to Ligue 1 of the Clermont club, last in the championship, after its home defeat against Lyon (1-0) but also his pride in having led the CF63 in the elite for three years. The Auvergne club was set up in 2021.
“We lacked efficiency. It’s a shame because we delivered the match I expected. We were consistent in the game. But without a goal. In football, you have to score. This match is a bit like our season,” Gastien commented at a press conference after the defeat against Lyon.
“I have a feeling of sadness because I think of all the people at the club who have worked hard during all these seasons. I hope the club will react and continue to move forward. There is a training center, a pre-training center, a training center. There is the stadium which will also evolve. There are all the ingredients for the club to be able to get going again very quickly,” continued the 60-year-old technician who will leave his post at the end of the season. He will be replaced by Sébastien Bichard, former assistant to Habib Beye at Red Star and who has already been his assistant for several months.
“We set up with a small Ligue 2 budget. Showing Ligue 1 to all of Auvergne is magnificent. We left training open and we still see people coming to see us. The children came to rub shoulders with L1 professionals. I’m going to remember that. Those were special moments. I have plenty of them. Tonight is not a special moment and I wish all the coaches to experience these moments as I have experienced them for seven years,” he concluded.
Pascal Gastien took charge of the Clermont team on September 1, 2017, succeeding Corinne Diacre, appointed head of the French women’s football team.
