With one more match to go before the season ended, Toulouse FC were in the relegation zone needing a win to stay up in France’s Ligue 1. With only eight wins in the league all season, things did not look good with mid-table finishers Angers as their final opponents in an away fixture.
Pascal Dupraz knew his side were good enough to stay up. But he needed his squad to know that too. 37 points from 37 games did not help build confidence ahead of the crucial fixture.
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Dupraz was not one to give up, though. In this incredibly motivational speech before the final game, he lays it all out in front of the entire squad and the coaching staff.
“You deserve to stay up,” he said. “I’ve been saying it for the past two months.
“The fans have chastised you a bit. Yet, for a while now they have shown you that they love you.”
He then goes on to show them a video of their families and loved ones who send them messages wishing them luck and letting them know that they believed Toulouse would stay up. Most of the players are reduced to tears after watching what is a very emotional video.
As the lights come back on, Dupraz calmly tells them, “At the end of the game, you will be heroes. And you will be responsible for keeping the club in Ligue 1.”
Toulouse come from behind twice to win 3-2
The match itself did not start well with Billy Ketkeophomphone putting Angers ahead in the 12th minute. Although Toulouse had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, Martin Braithwaite’s spot kick sailed over the bar much to the frustration of the away side.
It wasn’t until the second half that Toulouse equalised through Wissam Ben Yedder. However, Angers scored yet again to make it 2-1 when Said Benrahma scored just four minutes later.
Then came the epic comeback. Braithwaite managed to make up for his missed penalty to equalise yet again for Les Pitchouns before Yann Bodiger scored his first goal of the season with a brilliant free-kick to give Toulouse a 3-2 lead and the three points.
The final whistle saw the Toulouse players fall to the pitch with tears of joy as the substitutes and coaching staff ran onto the field celebrating like they had just won the league. Your move, Hollywood!
