The Orléanais had not experienced such a positive series in the league since the fall of 2018. At the time at the top level, in League 2, the USO had chained six victories in a row. Nicolas Saint-Ruf and his teammates are not there yet, but they have just signed a resounding four in a row, with the latest victim on their list, the leader of National, Concarneau, this Saturday (0-1).
A busy month of February
Although dominated in large widths by the Finisterians, US Orleans did not crack and took the opportunity to go back to the ninth place, mid-table. Two ways of looking at things now. The glass half full: the people of Orleans can capitalize on their successes and try to go back as high as possible, until aim for the top five, or even better. The glass half empty: more realistic, the USO will first try to keep calm and see what happens next.
It is obviously the second solution chosen by Xavier Collins. “It’s a great series! But we have three direct competitors coming, so we especially want to get out of this difficult area and then we can look up“, said the Orleans coach after the victory in Brittany on Saturday. The Yellow and Red will travel from Friday to Chambly, before receiving the red star and Saint Brieuc, respectively 15th, 13th and 14th of National.
Take inspiration from Villefranche?
The USO matters seven points ahead of the Picards and ten behind Annecy, third and last opponent of the month of February from Orleans. We will therefore know more about Orleans’ ambitions on the evening of February 25. Talking about Ligue 2 for the time being is obviously too premature and is almost mission impossible.
But the USO could very well be inspired by the Villefranche course. Last on the evening of the 14th day, at the beginning of December 2020, the Rhodaniens had achieved an exceptional course in the second part of the championship, with in particular 13 successes and six draws. Enough to bring them to third place, that of play-off, where they had just missed promotion to the next level.