Ajaccio, the floor is up to the defense

Five years after the relegation of SC Bastia, Corsica is again represented in the elite. Second in Ligue 2 last season, AC Ajaccio returns eight years after its last relegation. The 12th budget of the last season of L2 will be one of the little thumbs in Ligue 1. Overview of the Ajaccian forces, before the first match in Lyon, Friday August 5 at 9 p.m.

The objective: to remain solid in order to maintain

Last year, planting a goal at AC Ajaccio was an obstacle course. The Corsican rear guard went unviolated 23 times, conceding 19 small goals in total, a record in the 21st century. Despite this impermeability, the hardest part now starts for Olivier Pantaloni’s players. Resisting the main armadas of the championship is a huge challenge.

Best defense of L2 in 2020-21, Clermont suffered on the upper floor (69 goals conceded last year), even if it was maintained. The ACA is aware of this and has beefed up its defensive sector. Despite limited resources, right-back Mickaël Alphonse (Maccabi Haïfa), central defender Fernand Mayembo (Le Havre) and sentry Thomas Mangani (Angers) have joined the Isle of Beauty. Enough to survive a season at the end of which four teams will go down?

The player to watch: Oumar Gonzalez, always higher

Aggressive, sometimes to the point of excess (nine yellow cards), Oumar Gonzalez signed a high-flying season and played a big role in the inescapable solidity of Ajaccio. Fan of the Italian Giorgio Chiellini, he put more than one attacker to death. “I see the big defenders doing it, Materazzi, Bonucci, so why wouldn’t I do it?”he explained in February 2020 to the Courrier Picard (article for subscribers)after having caused the expulsion of a player from Châteauroux when he played under the colors of Chambly.

His promotion to L1 is part of the logic of a career with now linear progression. Ride in National in successive loans by Metz, his training club, he stabilized in L2 in Chambly (2019-2021) before joining Corsica. At 24, Oumar Gonzalez will discover the elite, like many of his teammates. The challenge certainly does not scare him.

The rookie: Romain Hamouma, one last dance to animate the attack

Reverse of its defensive solidity, Ajaccio scored only 39 small goals (11th attack of L2). To remedy this, the ACA enlisted Kevin Spadanuda (18 goals for D2 Switzerland in Aarau). He should benefit from the help of Romain Hamouma, a defector from Saint-Etienne. Author of 62 goals in more than 300 games on the side of Forez, the native of Doubs 35 years old offers himself a last outing in Corsica. He brings his experience and his versatility, since he can play on the right wing or as a second striker.

However, Hamouma’s once devastating boosts no longer prove to be so sharp. Above all, repeated injuries have plagued his career for several years. The last full season of the ex-Caennais dates back to … 2013-14. “In the game he will bring us technically”, assures sports director Johan Cavalli. It remains to be seen whether the physical will follow.

The 11 type: