Alain Giresse Assistant: Kosovo has potential to rise, fans there are passionate about football

Alain Giresse's assistant coach, Sebastien Bichard, feels satisfied with the experience he is going through in Kosovo and with our country's National.

The French coach has given an interview to the French portal “lanoullerepubeque”, which he has been talking about a long-term experience with “Dardians”, solid relationship with Coach Giresse, current results and the future of the Kosovo team.

Bichard had even once run the National of Kosovo as the main coach when Bernard Challands was affected by COVID-19.

And after he closed his co-operation with the Swiss coach, he was also invited by Frenchman Giresse, who took him to his staff.

I had closed the experience at Kosovo in October with the former Challenge train. But at the request of Alain Giresse, the Federation called me back in March. Alain asked me to come with him. I had several options, but I accepted the offer. We are part of the League of Nations and European qualifications. For me, it was the best opportunity to prove the high level of football”, Bichard first declared.

“Mu offered the position of academy manager in Spain and as the coach of the reserve in Switzerland. It's hard to be part of the national team staff, especially in Europe. Giresse took the initiative to call me, explained to me how she sees things. He's so passionate about football, so I'm the same, so we immediately found the common language. He's quite human, discreet, humble, a wonderful person”, he went on.

Kosovo began experience in the League of Nations with two victories, against Northern Ireland and against Cyprus, but was stopped by Greece later.

We didn't have all of our players present, and Greece, which will be the leader of Group B with the former Bordeaux coach, Gustavo Poyet at its helm, is a rigorous team”, he added.

However, Bichard believes Kosovo has the capacity to develop and achieve future successes.

After all, if they come to play reluctant footballers who have their minds on two parts.

There is potential for progress, especially with new generations. We need to get some players who have dual citizenship from Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway or Austria. For those who have dual citizenship, if they don't play for Germany, for example, they may end up coming to us.

According to Sebastian Bichard, Kosovo is a football passionate country.

When we won Cyprus, people were waiting for us at the airport. All over Europe, our fans are there. War in Yugoslavia divided the country, but quality in football and passion remain very present”, he underlined, writes “Gazeta Express”.

In France, no one knows Kosovo, but the fact that this country is linked to a coach who has that name (Alain Giresse), this gives the country another vision. You may find it a surprise, but it's a very rich experience. I've been a coach for 10 years, but I've been an assistant for the last two years. At this level, you learn the reality of competition. That makes me rich. And then, in my mind, I'm number one: today assistants dominate, it's not like 30 years ago when they blew the balls”, the coach finished.

Returned for several days to stay with his family in the Indra, France, before returning to Switzerland, where he lives, the unique journey of coach Sebastien Bichard to Kosovo is still far from finished.