Pape Diakhaté, a former Senegalese international and prominent figure of the AS Saint-Étienne between 2010 and 2011, comes back with emotion to the derby against Olympique Lyonnais, a moment he considers a significant milestone in his career. Trained in Nancy and revealed in Ligue 1 before passing through the Kiev Dynamo, his passage into the Loire allowed him to immerse himself in the intensity of a historical rivalry. Despite a mutual desire to extend its commitment, the Stéphanois club was unable to activate the purchase option, leaving Diakhaté with the memory of a draw at Gerland, a moment suspended between the hope of victory and the cruelty of disillusion, a meeting which, according to him, remains engraved in his memory due to the electric atmosphere and the passionate commitment that surrounded him.
The experience of the derby, experienced on the Lyon side after his departure from Saint-Étienne, allowed Diakhaté to see a notable difference in the emotional intensity felt between the two clubs, stressing the particular attachment of the Stéphanois to this meeting. He stresses the psychological dimension of this particular week, marked by specific mental preparation and undeniable pride, despite palpable pressure. Currently a consultant and coach, he carefully observes the performance of the ASSE, welcoming the game content and philosophy put in place by coach Eirik Horneland, while recognizing a certain fragility linked to team dynamics, an uncertainty that manifests itself as soon as an adverse goal is received.
Finally, Diakhaté makes a vibrant appeal to the unity of the Stéphanois supporters, convinced that their unwavering support can reverse the course of events and ensure the maintenance of the team. He expressed his confidence in the ASSE’s ability to maintain itself in Ligue 1 and appreciated the involvement of former players, such as Loïc Perrin, within the club structure, stressing the importance of continuity and the transmission of values. For the next derby, he anticipates a draw, considering that the current form of OL will be counterbalanced by the enthusiasm of the Stéphanois public.