Lucas Perrin’s car is easily recognizable. In the parking lot of the Meinau stadium, his license plate, with the department of Bouches-du-Rhône (13), is rare. Like the color of the vehicle: azure blue. Rather that of OM than Racing for the pure Marseillais, loaned this summer to the Alsatian club after twenty-two first years on the Canebière.
“I wanted another color but that was all that was left! But at least it matches the colors of Strasbourg. Finally, when I arrived, I was teased because they told me that they were the colors of Marseille, ”laughs the defender, who has become a potential starter for his coach Julien Stéphan. Le Minot has been in full swing for several months and signed a superb “Papinade” last Sunday in Saint-Etienne. He whose cheerful and lodger state of mind is regularly praised. Interview for 20 minutes with the n°1 ambianceur of the Strasbourg locker room.
What purpose ! Have you recovered since?
It’s the striker’s instinct! I had the reflex to set foot and she ended up in the back of the net. It’s weird because my best foot is the head! I’ve watched the video quite a few times since then, shared it all over social media. I hope to score more this season!
But you had already succeeded in a gesture like that?
I had already put one like this but in training. And the day before the match in Saint-Etienne (2-2), Dimitri Lienard sends me a ball, almost the same volley but I put it behind the other ground, very far.
Have you been housed since? You who are not the last to tease…
The day of the match at the table, I made a bet with Frédéric Guilbert (the right side of Racing). We wondered which of us would score first this season. What’s funny is that he gave me the assist. Inevitably, I was made chamber by everyone! And Fred owes me a nice little restaurant now…
What is your new challenge then? A triple?
If I plant it, I think we’ll end up champion this season (he’s laughing). But I would like to try to score a second goal, or even a third. If I do, they’ll hear me in the locker room!
You are often described as the group’s “moodmaker”. How does this materialize?
I am very sociable, I do not like to stay in my corner. When I was in Marseille, it was not the same, there were more conflicts between quotation marks. And then, in the OM locker room, I couldn’t afford to sleep in Payet, Mandanda, Thauvin when I had just arrived! We make ourselves small and crescendo, we are more comfortable. I waited seven or eight months before I was really comfortable. They are not at all the same locker rooms in Strasbourg and at OM. But I like to room and here they are not at all susceptible. Fortunately !
Do you sleep the most?
No, I will cite Dimitri Payet for example in Marseille. He messed with everyone. I often stayed with him, it made me laugh a lot so it became a habit. I also have my targets in Strasbourg. But when I do something stupid, in return, no one misses me!
Do you have any preferred targets in Strasbourg?
Everyone takes it well, there is a good atmosphere in the group. But I like to room Dimitri Lienard, Kevin Gameiro, Ludovic Ajorque and Adrien Thomasson. In the locker room, I’m next to them, we’re a small band, a small quartet. So inevitably, they are the ones who take the most. I react rather in the moment. But beware, I am not a clown!
What else do we do when we are the “ambiencer”? Do you also manage the music?
I’m the DJ. On the plane, when you win, it’s the nightclub, everyone puts on their sound! But on game day, I’m in charge of the music in the locker room. There is something for all tastes, all countries and all ages. I have everything because when I offer recent music, some people tell me to play older. When I put Tragedy, I just listened to orders. And I see that the coach is happy with the old one (Julien Stéphan passes by him at that time). But I have also already sent who is the example by Rohff, September, boogie etc.
Are you also an organizer of outings?
No, we don’t do that often. But if we go to a restaurant to see a Champions League match, it’s not me who manages. It is more the elders who take these initiatives.
Having a good state of mind can also mean going to a player when he is a little less well, when he is angry. Do you also have this role?
When we see that a person is not well, the message is quickly passed in the locker room and naturally, the players will support him. But it’s the whole team, not me in particular. And I haven’t seen a lot of conflict so far. When there is, it’s between certain players, so I don’t get involved. I prefer to get out bullshit when necessary, it calms the stories.
You say there are few conflicts. Have you ever experienced such a nice locker room and such a good atmosphere?
It’s not the same atmosphere at all. At OM, we also slept together, but it was calmer, more peaceful. In Strasbourg, we play a lot of cards, we dance, we sing, we laugh with the physiotherapists…
Are you then also a card player?
Yes, a lot to the “country”. I believe that in Alsace, we call it “coinche”. It’s a bit like belote. We play on the phone on the plane or with cards. Lienard, Thomasson, Guilbert, Djiku and I are followers. Otherwise we also play “Perudo”, a game of probability, chance and estimation. Or the “Uno” or the “American 8”.
Who sucks the most?
I’m a beginner but I learn quickly. I’m not going to put myself in the lot. I’m not going to name names, I don’t want any problems!