the SM Caen ends its three-game week with a trip to Le Havre this Saturday during the 30th day of Ligue 2. Winners of leader Toulouse (4-1) and authors of draw at Valenciennes (1-1)Stéphane Moulin’s men can afford a good week if successful.
The stakes: to please the supporters….
“Anyway, whatever the results we would have had, if we have a positive result (against Le Havre) it will be a good week., notes Stéphane Moulin who has taken into account the special aspect of the derby. This match is important in more ways than one. He takes a little bit out of context, you have to isolate him a bit from the others because it’s still a special match. I understood that well.
The fact that so many supporters show how important this game is and they testify by their actions the passion and love they have for this club.”
.. but also confirm the dynamics
While remaining cautious, Stéphane Moulin obviously outlines other objectives for his team than the simple challenge around the derby.
“The priority is first to secure our position and then obviously to please, that’s the best thing about sport. If we can please at the same time, that will be great, but there is first of all has an accounting, professional objective.” And to add : “There is a dynamic that is being born.”
Five pts from Le Havre and sixth place and five points ahead of the barrage Quevilly Rouen Métropole, Stade Malherbe by obtaining a performance this Saturday at its Norman neighbor could finally settle in the first part of the classification.
“For my first year in Caen, we finished 18th and we went down, lists defender Prince Oniangué. The second year, with the Covid, we finished thirteenth. Last year we finished seventeenth. Today, finishing in the first part of the table would already be a good step for the club’s future projects. It would be a good thing.”
And then there’s also that nine-game losing streak away from D’Ornano. “It’s been a very long time since we won away from home, Stephane Moulin agrees. The last time was in Toulouse so it will have to happen and it would be the right time.”
The derby: SM Caen undefeated at Stade Océane
You have to go back to November 2005 and a trip to the former Stade Jules-Deschaseaux to find traces of a defeat of SM Caen on the land of its neighbor Le Havre. And the Weeds have never lost in four games (Three draws and one win) played since the inauguration of Stade Océane in July 2012.
Let’s be positive for the many fans who will follow the match this Saturday: the derbies are always an opportunity to see goals. The last goalless draw between Caen and Le Havre dates back more than 20 years (September 29, 2001). Twenty matches have since taken place.
Caen workforce
No return is recorded (Absences of Mehdi Chahiri, Caleb Zady Séry, Anthony Gonçalves, Adolphe Teikeu and Sullivan Péan).
The only uncertainty concerns midfielder Yoann Court, victim of a blow and absent from Thursday’s session. Stéphane Moulin could renew the same team for the third time in a row.
“Already taking her back twice, it was Youppie tralala but I haven’t decided yet. I still have two or three questions but indeed if Yoann (short) trains normally this afternoon (Friday), I would have that opportunity.”
The SM Caen group to choose from : Rémy Riou, Yannis Clementia – Yoël Armougom, Ibrahim Cissé, Prince Oniangué, Ali Abdi, Hugo Vandermersch – Djibril Diani, Brahim Traoré, Franklin Wadja, Yoann Court, Steve Shamal, Jessy Deminguet, Johann Lepenant – Nuno Da Costa, Andréas Hountondji, Ilyes Najim, Benjamin Jeannot and Alexandre Mendy.