Casanova urges Toulouse focus

Posted Thursday, October 01, 2009 by PA

Toulouse coach Alain Casanova has urged his players to do their utmost to focus on Thursday's Europa League clash against Club Brugge in order to give Brice Taton a fitting tribute.

The club and city are in mourning after the Toulouse fan passed away yesterday, two weeks after he was injured in violent clashes with opposition fans in Belgrade.

Casanova knows it will not be easy to concentrate on football matters but knows that victory will be the best tribute for Taton.

"There will inevitably be emotion because you can not set this aside," he said. "He is someone who belonged to the family and the entire club is attached to its fans, so you can imagine the emotion that this can create.

"It is a hard blow for everyone, but we are forced to move forwards, forced to work and put ourselves again to the test.

"We suffer, but at the same time what is also important is to come through this week well because I think for Brice, it would have been something extraordinary that this week goes well."

Toulouse kicked off their Group J campaign with a 3-2 win at Partizan Belgrade on that fateful night.

And a second European win on the trot would leave them with one foot in the next round.

The hosts will be boosted by the news that star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has recovered from his back injury and has been included in Casanova's squad.

Albin Ebondo, Mohamed Fofana, Etienne Didot, Daniel Braaten and captain Mauro Cetto are all out.

Brugge had a nightmare start to their group campaign as they capitulated 4-1 at home against Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, striker Dorge Kouemaha has warned Toulouse to underestimate them at their peril.

"I think that abroad they underestimate the level of Belgian football," he said. "I believe we can get at least a point."

Ryan Donk is on his way back from injury but is not yet fully fit and has been left out of Adrie Koster's squad, as have Jared Jeffrey and Cleber, while defender Jorn Vermeulen and Jeroen Simaeys are still injured.