Many qualifiers have been used to talk about the pitiful defeat of Stade Lavallois in the 7th round of the Coupe de France against fans of Orvault last Saturday (1-1, 6-5 on tabs), and it was necessary don’t think about it too much this week to best prepare for the match against Niort in Ligue 2 in two days. A crucial match in the race to maintain, because the Chamois are last in the championship, and Laval is only three points ahead.
A mental problem
At the beginning of the week, the players and the staff spoke again about the meeting in the Nantes suburbs in order to heal the wounds. “We simply did not respect football. We did not respect the fundamentals. And from that moment on, we are punished. So of course, the schedule, the quality of the pitch didn’t help, but that’s a question of the mind.” says Captain Jimmy Roye.
“We are not looking for excuses, he continues. Very sincerely, since I arrived at the club, it had never happened to me to say to myself that we had failed at the level of the head. We were a bit of the laughingstock of football. We are aware of it. You don’t have to hide.”
We’re not going to whip each other all day. We’ve had enough in the face_
To put this elimination in the radius of the accidents of a season, introspection was necessary, even if many holders were not present on this first and last match of the Coupe de France. Monday Olivier Frapolli the coach spoke. Without mincing words.
“When you miss it, it’s good to tell each other and tell each other without any compromise (…) once you’ve said that, we’re not going to whip each other all day. We have taken enough in the face. Now it’s back to the fight“explains the coach.
Mouali injured before Niort
For the reception of Niort, the Mayenne technician will not be able to count on Hamza Mouali. The left-back picked up a hamstring injury in training on Wednesday. Djibril Diaw is also suffering from a sprained ankle. The defender was released during the match against Orvault.
This week, striker Sébastien Da Silva took part in the collective sessions, but should not return to Ligue 2 before the break. François-Xavier Fumu Tamuzo is still in a period of re-athletics.
►► Stade Lavallois – Chamois Niortais (14th day of Ligue 2) will be followed in full on France Bleu Mayenne this Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 6:45 p.m. with Franck Gauteur, Martin Cotta and our consultant Ulrich Le Pen.