Football: Saurat – Morel, a hell of a duo for a hell of a challenge, keeping Uzès in Regional 1

Philippe Morel et Stéphane Saurat, en duo à Uzès. Midi Libre – ERIC DOLADILLE

The former coach of Mende, Anduze and Alès Stéphane Saurat and the historic former coach of Chusclan-Laudun Philippe Morel at the bedside of the troubled Uzès, relegated to Regional 1 (6th   National level).

Sacred duo

They conducted their first three sessions this week. Stéphane Saurat, as number 1, and Philippe Morel, as deputy, were chosen by Ahmed Maharzi, the president of the Entente sportive pays d’Uzès (ESPU), to try to maintain the club in Regional 1. They succeed Gaël Dussargues.

The former coach of Mende (2011-2015), Anduze (2017-2018) and Alès (2018-2022) and the historic coach of Chusclan-Laudun, who led his team until the 7th round of the Coupe de France in 2021 (eliminated by Nîmes Olympique, 0-3, Regional 3 against Ligue 2), are delighted to work as a duo.

"The first condition for my coming to Uzès was to be with Philippe, explains Stéphane Saurat. This was non-negotiable. This challenge is first and foremost a story of friendship. We played a season together at Pont-Saint-Esprit, we passed our diplomas together, we team up at padel. We had discussed the idea, when the opportunity presented itself, of coaching together. And Philippe has his two boys on the team (Jules and Léo), he has seen all the matches and he knows it well. I think we can be complementary."

Quite a challenge

"I received a phone call from a Uzetian manager after their defeat against the Nîmes Olympique reserve (5-0 but 0-0 at half-time !), says Saurat. Then we met with Ahmed (Maharzi). I had already been contacted by Uzès and others (Bagnols-Pont in particular, Editor’s note). After more than a year off, I missed competition. And the relationship with the players. Nothing in your life compensates for this lack. At padel, you have fun, but it’s not the same. Some people think I'm crazy for agreeing to maintain the club in four months. The challenge is difficult but exciting. The team has only won one match in eleven days."

The Ducaux are penultimate, with many young elements, involved but with room for improvement. "Some of their meetings turned on details, goals taken in their highlights… With Philippe, we will bring our experience, our skills, our desire. And try to make them grow a little faster. I don't believe in miracles but in work, explains Saurat, who will celebrate his 54th birthday on a bench on February 20.

As a man of challenge: "If we manage to save the team, it will be extraordinary. I don't forget that when I arrived in Alès five years ago, the club was also in R1, then he was drafted. I must like difficult things… If we can repeat the same journey with Uzès, I’ll sign right away! Our goal and that of the leaders is to see in the long term.

He was able to place Mende (through his exploits in the Cup) on the French football map and put Alès back there (in N2). Never two without three with Uzès, still in National ten years ago ?

Sacred OAC

When, more in tune with part of the locker room, Saurat resigned from his position as OAC coach at the end of October 2022, the Cévennes team was in bad shape but not relegated. Fifteen months later, she is. "I can only note that unfortunately, the ranking has not changed much. The squad has evolved, the club escaped on the last day last season, it recruited a lot but it is relegated. I sincerely hope that the OAC will get through this."

This Saturday, February 3 at 7 p.m. on the Pautex synthetic pitch, Uzès (11th out of 12, 6 pts) hosts Le Grau du Roi (4th, 21 pts) for the start of the return phase (12th day of R1). I subscribe to read more