«The coach said it was going to be like this, this week has been like a boot camp!.» Modeste M’Bami makes very clear the atmosphere of the Commanderie at the moment. Eric Gerets was very clear when speaking to the Press, this week has been a week of hard work, and as far as the coach is concerned, any information he gleans from the sessions is precious. «A great week, I’ve learnt from our defeats and training sessions. It’s been perfect to see if they are ready to go that extra mile. For the moment there are certain players who just haven’t proven to me that the want to push things right to the end. Most have but not all, that’s why it will be very easy for me to compose my team this weekend. My ideas have never been as clear as they are right now; he announces, his words suggesting that there will be changes against Lorient on Sunday.
The training sessions were pricipally based on duels, ball recuperation and defensive work, according to M’Bami : «He insisted on the fact that every line of the team has defensive duties and when they all work at it it’s much easier for everyone. When we were playing well, everyone was pulling their weight. We have the team capable of doing it again.»
Nevertheless, the Belgian coach’s constatation would appear to make it clear that there are still some problems. He explains: «I saw that not everyone was concentrated on doing the same things at the same time. It’s what made us strong before and that’s what I’m talking about. Certain people still haven’t understood the message. It’s an attitude, things that were there when I arrived and had changed have started creeping back and I won’t have it. There are always problems in a team but they have to be talked about in order to solve them. I didn’t come here to see my team, in 8 games time, throw away everything they have worked for up to now.»

«I want to see the players with mental strength show themselves »

The coach’s moment of anger is legitimate when you look at the work that has been put in over the months, they do not want to see all the good work go down the drain unnecessarily. «We had to be very strong to do what we have managed since I arrived, the players have shown they are capable , continues Gerets, it’s going to be a very interesting period for me, I’ll be able to see if we are capable of turning things round. We have the mentality, but we have to show it again as a team. I want everyone to participate a bit more, to play for the honour of the jersey, I want to see the players with mental strength show themselves.»
The objective of third place is still news, the coach is looking even further though  : «We are playing withthe future of the club, but I’m playing for my future as well. I depend on the results that my players get, so I try to prepare them as best I can. We are building for next season now as well, the players have to fight to assure themselves a place next season.»
Words that have started to be picked up by the squad, at least according to Gael Givet  who continues  : «We’ve had a run of bad results, it’s normal that the coach tries to tighten things up », he has been tougher with us but it’s a good thing, it’s put everyone back in place and facing in the right direction. Now, these things have to pay off.»