“If I did not think that they could maintain themselves, I would not be in front of you”, assures Pascal Dupraz, new coach of Saint-Etienne

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A challenge, a real one. Appointed coach of AS Saint-Etienne on Tuesday, Pascal Dupraz gave his first press conference at the head of the Greens, Wednesday, December 15. The new coach was presented by the executive president Jean-François Soucasse and the new sports coordinator, Loïc Perrin. “Pascal was the most able to fulfill the mission, confirmed the latter. We were looking for a French-speaking coach, who had trained in Ligue 1, took on a team during the season and who was a leader of men “

Over the course of Dupraz’s first speech, one constant came back: he firmly believes in maintaining his family: “If I didn’t think they could keep up, I wouldn’t be in front of you. I’m weak to think I have recipes.”, he thus assured.

“I am not speaking in the conditional. Since we are going to hold on, it will be because each of us has given the best.”

Pascal Dupraz, new coach of AS Saint-Etienne

press conference

The Haut-Savoyard technician is used to maintenance missions. He had saved Toulouse in 2016, when Téfécé was ten points behind the first non-relegation ten days from the end. “But it was the players who held on, said the new coach forézien. It is not the same challenge. There are still double the number of matches, it is neither the same club, nor the same situation. “

Red lantern of Ligue 1 with 12 units in 18 games, Saint-Etienne is, after all, only three points behind Metz, barrage. “But it is underperforming for a club of this standing”, noted Pascal Dupraz, who refuses to register as a “Saviour”.

Without dwelling too much on his future choices, the 59-year-old coach focused his speech on “self-confidence” players. “It’s at least 50% of the performance”, he clarified. The players are the main players who will perform tomorrow. ” The former Caen coach led his first training session on Wednesday morning. “The tactical precepts, I will reserve them for the players”, he evacuated.

This group, in fact, could be expanded in the coming weeks. “If we improve the team, I’m not going to say no”, smiled Dupraz. Central defender Joris Gnagnon (ex-Rennes and Sevilla) has already signed. Other reinforcements could arrive, in particular to compensate for the departures of certain players at the African Cup of Nations – if it takes place. “It will mainly be in the form of loans, conceded Loïc Perrin. We target players in difficulty in their clubs, to find playing time. “

Until then, ASSE must play two crucial matches. In the Coupe de France, then, then in Ligue 1 with the reception of Nantes on December 22. “For me, she will be emotionally strong”, recognized Pascal Dupraz.


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