Weaned from victory since the end of September (3-2 in Toulouse), the Stade Malherbe Caen is going through a very difficult period. Tumble in League 2 (16th), elimination upon entry into contention in French Cup by an amateur club, the pills are bitter and harder to swallow, whether for players, supporters, staff and managers.
The latter have precisely decided to react by recruiting the Cameroonian defender Adolphe Teikeu, even before the start of the winter transfer window. The day after his signing, the Caen sports director Yohan Eudeline granted us an interview.
France Bleu Normandie: Why did you choose to recruit Adolphe Teikeu?
Yohan Eudeline: He is a strong central defender, with a great experience in Ligue 2. He has a profile that we did not have in our squad, namely a solid central defender, athletic, capable of winning duels but also a leader. , boss in the locker room and we missed that too. He was on trial in Nîmes and we said to ourselves that we didn’t need a trial for a player like that, a sure bet in the championship. Now, he hasn’t played for a long time, he needs to get back in shape and work with the physical trainers. We hope he is ready for the recovery in January.
FBN: Adolphe Teikeu was already free this summer. Did you have the opportunity to recruit him at the start of the season?
YE: Yes, we had made contacts this summer but we had in mind to make only one central defender and our priority was Ibrahim Cissé, for whom we had to pay 300,000 euros. At this point, our other central defenders were satisfactory. Afterwards, we had physical problems (Cisse’s toe fracture, editor’s note) and it’s a little more complicated. You also need numbers to last the entire season so it was important to strengthen ourselves and when Adolphe’s opportunity arose, we simply accelerated.
“Recruit a player in the middle of the field”
FBN: You tested midfielder Ahmed Khalil last week. Will he sign a contract with SM Caen?
YE: He is a player who asked us to spend a few days with us. We accepted and we tested him during our match at Avranches, but he will not spend the season with us, we are not keeping him.
FBN: Can we expect other recruits, before the winter transfer window or during?
YE: We have already recruited Adolphe Teikeu, we preferred to anticipate by getting ahead of the transfer window. Now we’re going to work during the winter market, that’s for sure. In particular on the exits of players. There are some who are not in the project, who have a little less playing time, and we would like to find a way out for them. Then, if we can strengthen ourselves on an additional position, we will take stock with the coach but it is true that in the midfield, we can be in difficulty. It may be necessary to add value to this position. We will think quietly. Afterwards, on the other stations, I find that we are quite armed.
FBN: Even in attack, where Alexandre Mendy must go to play in the African Cup of Nations?
YE: We are going to discuss it with Alexandre how it sits, and if we should strengthen ourselves in this position while he is at CAN. In principle, he will do it so we will see with the coach if there is a need to strengthen.
Six cases of Covid-19 at the training center
Along with this interview, Yohan Eudeline wanted to clarify the situation on the match played, and lost, in Avranches last Friday (0-3). It was a “improved opposition“. The Manchese club insisted that this match be done behind closed doors, which the SMC respected.
About the training sessions closed to the public until further notice, it is justified by the occurrence of six cases of Covid-19 in the training center. The leaders of the Norman club say they are far-sighted with regard to the team three weeks before the winter break, while hoping to be able to reopen training as soon as possible.
Find the full interview with Yohan Eudeline in replay on the 100% Stade Malherbe show on Tuesday, November 30.