We Candau it, says City midfielder Vincent
By DAIRE WALSH
Three years on from their last piece of silverware, when they achieved a Setanta Sports Cup and Munster Senior Cup double, Tommy Dunne’s Cork City will be looking to add their name to the League Of Ireland Cup for a fourth time when they welcome Derry City to Turner’s Cross on Saturday evening.
Speaking at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday as part of the build-up to the big day, French midfielder Vincent Escudé-Candau is looking forward to his first final as a Rebel Army player, though he did stress that they would have to be at their very best to thwart a high-flying Candystripes side.
“To win this game, we have to practice our best football, because we can play a little bit under our level against others, but against a team like Pat’s, Sligo, Shamrock, Derry we cannot. 100% we lose it if we are not on the top level. So, we have to be ready. For the final, we are ready. We want to win,” remarked Escudé-Candau.
Having come over to Ireland on the recommendation of his good friend, ex-Sligo Rovers star Romauld Boco, Escudé-Candau admits that he took something of a gamble leaving his homeand to come and ply his trade in the League Of Ireland, but he is now glad that he did so.
“It is a little bit hard, because I used to live with my family, when you go to another country it is very different. A new language, a new culture, everything’s new, but I’m okay. I have a good adaptation, and that’s because we have a good team. The players in Cork City are really nice”, the Biarritz native added.
“One thing that is really difficult as well. When I leave France, I have a club. I break one contract, and I come here with nothing. I have to find something. So, I come, I have no club, and a new country, bad weather! So, it was a little bit hard, but now I’m happy to do that”.
As the end of the season approaches, there will be much speculation surrounding Escudé-Candau’s future. It is clear from his demeanour that the 26-year-old would like to stay on these shores (even if it meant transferring to a different club), but he willing to wait until the close season to see how matters will develop.
“I don’t know. I want to stay, but I don’t know now. We have to wait until the end of the season to know if we will be promoted”.
For now though, his mind is firmly fixed on the EA Sports Cup Final against Derry City, and he believes that a victory on Saturday would be a good reward following the risk he took in coming over to Ireland.
“Exactly. I mean, we hope we win this trophy, and I will be happy if it is the case. But I’m already happy, I never regret anything I do. Saturday will be a great day”.