Unable to win away from home since August 14 at Guingamp, his only away win this season in Ligue 2, Amiens SC (11th) must remain intractable at home and beat the Nancy red lantern this Saturday March 12 at the Licorne to avoid fears of the struggle to maintain and redeem himself from his last defeat (1-2) in Pau where the team, too “sufficient”, gave the impression of being scuttled.
Lusamba: ‘No lack of humility’
“There are defeats that are more or less difficult to pass, this one sticks in our throats” recognize midfielder Arnaud Lusamba which nevertheless promises that the problem does not come “from a lack of humility. I don’t think we’re too arrogant or too sure of ourselves, we’re just aware of our abilities, which unfortunately we haven’t yet demonstrated on the pitch. It’s more a problem of deconcentration and it’s frustrating not to be able to cross this course“
Hinschberger: “The 42 points… like an old fart!”
If the last hopes of seeing Amiens (11th with 33 points) play a hypothetical climb have flew away, the players of Philippe Hinschberger are still far from having ensured their maintenance. “The Pau match is a turning point that we negotiated badly and I resented them” admits the Amiens coach. “We left the possibility of crossing the bar of tenth place for the first time, and of making space with those behind us. In the last six matches, you have drawn three and won three, you are running at two points per match, you have to drive the point home at some point! Everything is so possible in football that the day we trip over the carpet we can blame ourselves for this match in Pau. I haven’t deviated one iota. I’m still like an old fart on my 42 points. As long as we don’t have them, we won’t be able to relax!” And a victory would be all the more welcome before a trip at the leader Toulouse Tuesday evening.
Amiens – Nancy act 3
The Amiens will have to show more control than in the first leg (1-1) where they had played more than one half at 9 against 11 following the evictions from Tolu and Bamba. In the French Cup the ASC, on the other hand, qualified (2-0) at the end of January at the Marcel Picot stadium. “It will be a tough game“ warns Philippe Hinschberger, however, despite the critical situation of Nancy, red lantern with 20 points. “I know my friend Albert Cartier (Nancy coach), I know how he will motivate his troops, it’s a team that won’t give up until the last minute of the championship“
A revamped defense
If Amiens SC records suspension returns of his top scorer Aliou Badji and midfielder Arnaud Lusamba, Philippe Hinschberger will be deprived on the other hand of Pavlovic and Gnahoré injured, and Zungu and Gene suspended. Mathis Lachuer and Emmanuel Lomotey should evolve in central hinge and Formose Mendy could slip right side if he is fully recovered from his foot injury on February 26 against Nîmes.
ASC – Nancy on France Bleu Picardie
As usual, the game Amiens-Nancy is to be lived in full this Saturday, March 12 (7 p.m.) on France Bleu Picardie. Pre-match from 6:45 p.m. with Mathieu Dubrulle and Bastien Roques live from the Unicorn stadium where the ASC remains on five victories in his last six matches.