Interview with Marc Keller: Strasbourg’s Evolution, Ambitions, and the Summer Ahead
No regrets, just progress.
Marc Keller opens with clarity: (Watch the Video Here)
“If we had finished 5th or 6th, it would have been great too. But now we want to do better. We want to improve things even more, to see what we can do to progress. The club's ambition is clear: to be more ambitious. There's no disappointment whatsoever. We had some great moments. And what you said confirms what I’ve been hearing everywhere in Alsace and across France — Racing brought joy to the public. That, to me, is hugely important.”
Trust and transformation.
Keller is frank about the nerves at the beginning:
“I wouldn’t call it suspicion, but of course people were worried at the start. We had over a decade of continuity with our previous leadership. And now there’s change — change that I believe was absolutely necessary. Still, change always brings uncertainty. But I stayed calm. I was at the heart of things, I saw the project taking shape, I knew the quality of the people around me, and I saw the fierce will to move the club forward.”
Youth, mentality, and modern football.
“We had to change the squad. That was clear. Not just because of age, we saw with PSG that it's not only about age. It's about quality and mentality. We have good players, very good players. They want to win. And above all, they built a cohesive, tight-knit group. That’s also a recipe for success.
The benefit of youth is that you can mould your team in the direction you want. That’s harder with players who are 28 or 29 and set in their style. Look at the data: our team runs, they sprint, they press and counter-press effectively. The team played with forward momentum, brought real energy, and the players got on well. Julien [Stéphan] said it best: the people were happy. That matters.”
The human touch: creating belonging.
“The mentality was a key part of Liam Rosenior's communication. His players never gave up, they believed in themselves, and they supported each other.
Take André Santos. He spent a year and a half here on loan from Chelsea, and when he left, he said he’d fallen in love with the club. Petrovic, who returned to Chelsea, said, 'I’ll miss you guys.' That shows something profound.
I watched the Champions League final in Munich, and I saw young, foreign players at PSG speaking French, making the effort. That’s when I thought PSG is heading in the right direction — they’re integrating. André did the same. He came back to Strasbourg happy. His wife was here. They had a baby here. He spoke French, he engaged, he was genuinely happy.
That’s a huge success: when players from abroad come on a one-year loan and feel at home. The same goes for Petrovic. He was a starter at Chelsea, could have aimed for a European club, but we reached a deal late and he was delighted to be in Strasbourg. He enjoyed his season and left with a real bond.
It shows that Strasbourg can be attractive for players from other clubs, including Chelsea. We offer a wonderful crowd, a fantastic stadium in the making, and a beautiful city. Everything is in place to flourish here.”
Summer movement and continuity.
“Yes, the squad will change — like it does every summer, in every club. Santos and Petrovic are returning from loan. Others may leave if we receive satisfactory offers. But that’s the reality everywhere. Maybe only one or two of the world’s elite clubs can retain all their players.
At Strasbourg, under our previous ownership, we had a very stable squad for years. But we reached a point where we needed to evolve. The arrival of BlueCo gave us resources we never had before.
Nowadays, in modern football, player movement is part of the game. That doesn’t mean our ambition changes. We want to keep our best players, and if we do lose some, we want to bring in even better replacements. Our goal is simple: by September, we want a better squad than we have today.
Some players, like Habib Diarra, have been promised they can leave in 2025 if the right offer arrives. We keep our word. But overall, we want the best possible team because we want to fight for Europe.”
Ambition with new flexibility.
“Yes, things have changed. Before, if we wanted to buy, we had to sell first. Now, with our American partners, we can refuse big offers if it means keeping our squad strong. That was the case with Diarra.
Again, the goal is to have the best possible team, to fill the stadium, to keep fans happy, and to hit our targets.”
Will we still see a youthful squad next season?
“That remains the direction we want to take. And again, it’s not about age; it’s about talent and mentality.
Barco is a great example. Honestly, I didn’t know much about him initially. The scouts flagged him, the owners backed the deal. He arrived on loan, but we turned it into a permanent deal.
Sometimes, a loan becomes a transfer. And Barco? He’s phenomenal. Initially considered a left-back, we discovered he might be even better in midfield. He’s technically gifted, but he also has grit. He’s Argentinian — you feel it.”
Interviewer:
You’ve mentioned that since BlueCo came in, there have been some real advantages — from network access to the arrival of players who’ve made a real impact here. Some supporters worry about a loss of identity. What’s your take?
Marc Keller:
Yes, we’ve certainly been able to benefit from the network and bring in some players with good reputations who’ve integrated well. But to be honest, I see a lot of positives from BlueCo’s arrival — and I say that as someone with a bit of distance. People often raise the question of identity, but I personally haven’t felt like anything fundamental has changed.
Take someone like Valentín Barco — and I say this carefully — to me, he’s got the same kind of personality we saw with Dimitri Liénard back in the day. Where’s the difference? I really don’t see one, at least not in terms of character.
Jonathan:
Yes, we spoke a few months ago with Momo about club identity — what it really means. I get the concern, the fear of losing it. But identity is such an intangible thing.
Marc Keller:
Exactly. For me, identity is deeply rooted. We’re still at La Meinau, we haven’t changed the club’s name. There’s that view from the stands of the cathedral — that’s identity. And it's also the staff behind the scenes. Most of the club’s administrative employees have been with us for nearly 10 years. Sure, we’re hiring more now because of the stadium development, but the core remains.
Identity, to me, is also about the players' commitment. I had lunch with Dimitri today — people respected him because he gave everything. And I see that same spirit today, even in the younger players or those who’ve come from elsewhere. They’ve given their all on the pitch.
Racing’s values and identity are being respected. That’s why I believe what people really want to see is a team with energy, a team that plays football, that gives everything, that doesn’t cheat — that’s the Racing identity. And the fans have responded to that.
Interviewer:
Let’s talk about the transfer window. Are there any specific positions you feel need strengthening?
Marc Keller:
If you analyse our season, many of the points we dropped came when a key player was missing — I’m thinking in particular of Habib Diarra. He’s become essential to us, whether in defence or when pressing high. So, for me, finding someone to complement or provide cover for him is crucial.
When Diarra’s not playing, the whole structure of our game changes. So I think recruiting a forward is a priority. Also, perhaps a backup on the right side. Doué was often left a bit isolated there.
Of course, a lot will depend on departures. Even though arrivals are now less tied to who leaves, we still need to plan. I’m also curious to see who we bring in for the goalkeeper position. We’ve got a very solid backup, but I was genuinely blown away by Petrovic. Honestly, in all my time at Racing, he’s the best keeper I’ve seen — incredibly complete, so composed, even from his very first warm-ups and saves.
I won’t name names or specific positions, but I can assure you — we’re working hard and we’re ready to invest again to make this team strong.
Extracted & Translated by BlueCo Xtra Editor
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