And if it was the best opportunity to take off? Presented as a new game of fear, the clash between FC Lorient (16th) and AS Saint-Étienne (18th) this Friday (9 p.m.) at the start of the 31st day of Ligue 1 can allow the winner to take its distances on the red zone. If successful, the Greens would be 7 points ahead of Metz and Bordeaux19th and 20th in the standings, who face off this Sunday.
The declaration: “An experienced player does not fail twice”
A rebound is expected after the defeat against OM. And especially from executives like Eliaquim Mangala and Timothée Kolodziejczak who were not at the level. Pascal Dupraz is waiting for a response from his men, he who has been practicing cuddle therapy with them since his arrival: “Our executives did not make the right gestures. I am waiting for the hierarchy to be observed and for our executives, because they are executives and because they are experienced players who have been internationals and played in many European cup matches, to recover. An experienced player does not fail twice. I don’t think I need to hold them accountable. It is to put them on their guard. But they are because they are responsible“.
Player to watch: Enzo Crivelli
Pascal Dupraz will again have to do without his top scorer Wahbi Khazri and Romain Hamouma for this trip against Lorient. In their absence, the Haute-Savoie technician could be tempted to establish Enzo Crivelli for the first time. The striker played his first minutes for Saint-Etienne against OM and said he was ready to start against Les Merlus.
The stat: Lorient took only 11 points against the teams in the second part of the table
Since the start of the season, the Greens have scored 22 points against opponents currently ranked between 10th and 20th place. Lorient has a much less flattering record with only 11 points taken. The elite’s worst total in this exercise.
The composition France Bleu: Crivelli holder
Bernardoni – Thioub, Moukoudi, Mangala, Nadé, Kolo – Neyou, Gourna – Boudebouz – Crivelli, Bouanga