the SM Caen (15th) does not sail in troubled waters but could find his way there in the event of poor performance against Nimes (8th) this Saturday at the Ornano stadium (7 p.m., live on France Bleu). After beating Ajaccio, we thought the Caennais had finally embarked on a second half of the season that was less difficult than last season, but once again the long-awaited confirmation did not take place.
The defeat against Niort (0-2), and the draw in Nancy (1-1) allowed the competitors for the maintenance to get closer to the Norman club. The red zone is now four points behind. As for the Crocos, after a solid start to the season and an air pocket in the fall, they now have a six-point lead over the SMC. Since the arrival of Nicolas Usai on their bench at the start of January, the Nîmes Olympique chained three victories and a defeat, last weekend at ten against eleven, against Dunkirk.
Moulin: “Nîmes has digested its relegation”
“It is _a team on an ascending form_who was able to understand the demands of the division, and who seems to have digested his relegation“, to analyse Stephane Moulin. We too could be 9th or 8th, or even better, I don’t think we’re below those teams.. But collectively, the players aren’t doing enough yet. I wish we were more ‘competitors’. Being nice and nice is good, but it doesn’t win games.”.
15th with 26 dots, the SMC is still far from being able to rest. He will still have to whip to obtain his maintenance. However, the specter of an end to the season similar to that of last year does not seem relevant. “We are not on the same configuration as last yearwants to reassure Stéphane Moulin. It’s not the same season at all. To qualify the previous one, the weed-killer trainer mentions “a slide that seemed inevitable after a good start to the season” which did not suggest such a result. This year, Caen has always been “in the middle” according to his coach. Never at the bottom of the hole, but always unable to chain several good results. Pity ! Because according to his coach, the SMC could be “9th or 8th” if he had known how to take the right turns.
This weekend, no sequence in sight but a return to victory hoped for in a stadium in Ornano again authorized at full gauge.
Troop update
Announced yesterday in several media, the goalkeeper package Remy Riou has not been confirmed by Stéphane Moulin. The return ofAdolphe Teikeu no more. Two training sessions must still take place before the match against Nîmes, the list of 18 players summoned will be established at the last moment. Nevertheless, Nuno DaCosta and Anthony Goncalves should be there after their suspension last weekend, not Yoann Courtwho has one match left to serve.
Left before the end of the match in Nancy for pain in the adductor, Hugo Vandermersch will be present against Nîmes. His rupture of the cruciate ligaments now seems a distant bad memory. Today, he can focus entirely on his game and his new piston position. “I like this position, it gives me the freedom to project myself. However, I am above all a defender. I want to go home after the game saying to myself ‘nothing happened on my side’. Afterwards, offensively, I hope not to stop at a goal and an assist this season“.
The likely summons: Péan, Clémentia – Rivierez, Traoré, Cissé, Oniangué, Teikeu, Armougom, Vandermersch – Deminguet, Lepenant, Diani, Gonçalves – Zady Séry, Mendy, Da Costa, Shamal, Hountondji
Find the debrief of the pre-match press conference at 6:35 p.m. in 100% Stade Malherbe.