There is no urgency, at least not yet, when we hear the official speech of the representatives of ASSE. However, the urgency is very real for a team which does not yet seem to have started its championship, and where the reconstruction site remains immense.
At the end of the first two days of Ligue 2, the Greens remain in the negative at the accounting level (-2 points) and have not yet left last place. It is now time for the real start against the Normans of Quevilly-Rouen Métropole (16th with 1 point). After the failed inaugural match in Dijon, the reassuring draw in the state of mind but without flavor against Nîmes, coach Laurent Batlles expects his players tonight “more risk-taking, which they dare, while maintaining defensive solidity“.
Pragmatic in the absence of being able to set up a real long-term game project now, the Saint-Etienne staff also hope to return from Normandy having swung into the positive at the accounting level. Today, you have to be a little rational, try to take points to secure our club, the workforce”, admits Laurent Batlles.
The Saint-Etienne group, without Briançon or Aouchiche, with Pintor, Maçon and Abi
For this trip to Normandy, Laurent Batlles will still be without central defender Anthony Briançon (affected after the first day in Dijon) as well as Adil Aouchiche, suffering from a knee following poor contact with a ball.
The technician has already announced that a four-man defense would again be put in place. The midfield could be the same as the one lined up against Nîmes (Camara – Neyou – Lobry). On the other hand, the offensive animation will be different around Jean-Philippe Krasso with first the probable tenure of Mathieu Cafaro in place of Adil Aouchiche. Lenny Pintor, the latest recruit to date, could also be lined up in place of Ayman Aiki. Also note the first appearance in the group this season of striker Charles Abi.
QRM – ASSE, 3rd day of Ligue 2, to be experienced in full from 8 p.m. on France Bleu Saint-Etienne Loire with our partners from Evect.