Apparently, nothing has changed. 20th in Ligue 1 after Claude Puel was sidelined in the wake of a home defeat against Rennes (0-5) on December 5, AS Saint-Étienne still occupies last place in the standings a month and a half later, when it was time to find neighbor and rival Lyon at the start of the 22nd day, Friday January 21 (9 p.m.).
In accounting terms, the gap with the 18th, who will play a play-off against a Ligue 2 team at the end of the season, has even more than doubled: there are now 5 points that separate the Greens from Lorient, against 2 behind Clermont before the takeover by Pascal Dupraz. Dupraz, firefighter on duty, called to try to wake up the Saint-Etienne group as he had been able to do with Toulouse in 2016.
A month and a week after his arrival in Forez on December 14, the ebullient 59-year-old technician has still not tasted success in the league, and the Greens remain stuck with two successes this season, in quick succession, on November 7 and 21, against Clermont (3-2) and Troyes (0-1). A start before diving back. Before Rennes, “Sainté” lost to PSG (1-3) and Brest (1-0).
Two Ligue 1 matches, two new defeats
The interim provided by Julien Sablé in Reims also ended in failure (2-0), as did Dupraz’s first two in the league: 0-1 against Nantes, 1-2 against Lens. “Frustrating” defeats for the former coach of Evian, the first conceded in the 83rd minute, the second in the 95th while the Greens had opened the scoring in the 38th (equalization in the 77th).
Less porous defense
There are, however, two positive aspects to remember from this period. First, a much less porous defense: 2 goals conceded in two matches against 10 in the previous four. Then, this goal scored against the Sang et Or, “magnificent and which owes nothing to anyone” according to Dupraz, while the counter had remained blocked since the reception of Paris.
The Morale Cup
At the same time, ASSE offered itself two smiling parentheses in the Coupe de France, certainly against two teams from National 2 (4th division), but with “seriousness” appreciated the coach, without further humiliation. How would have been an elimination in another derby against Lyon-La Duchère (victory of the Greens 0-1)? Against Jura Sud in the 16th round, Saint-Étienne took the opportunity to score 4 goals for the first time in his season. Everything is good to take in a crisis of confidence.
Boudebouz inflated
Among the scorers that evening, the Algerian Ryad Boudebouz, a repeat offender against Lens. Repositioned higher offensively due to the absence of Wahbi Khazri, retained for the CAN, the former Montpellier player can be one of those who will tip the green season on the right side. Shelved by Puel in September 2020 like other executives before returning to favor, the 31-year-old Algerian feels all the confidence of Dupraz, a “dad” who “the group needed”.
We will go to better days if we keep these attitudes
Pascal Dupraz
In fact, the cards have been reshuffled in the Loire for five weeks. Young defender Abdoulaye Bakayoko (19) thus won his first start against Lens. Comment from a long-time supporter: “He is good, he deserves it. Overall, there is better in the game. We feel that the group is living better”. After Lens, Dupraz was satisfied for his part not to have seen a formation which abdicated. We will go to better days if we keep these attitudes.
Bernardoni, experience for the purpose
Another change that may be of capital importance: the arrival in goal of Paul Bernardoni, who arrived on loan from Angers until the end of the season. Despite his 24 years, the goalkeeper is a rookie already experienced in L1, while the young Stefan Bajic (20 years old) guarded the cage of the Greens in their last matches after the injury to an elbow of Étienne Green (21 years old) .
Bernardoni has a experienced in the struggle to maintain with Nîmes (2018-2020). “Habit is strength,” notes Dupraz. It already counts 179 professional matches with Troyes, where he trained (2014-2016), Bordeaux (2015-2017), Clermont (2017-2018, L2, loan), Nîmes (2018-2020, L1, loan) and Angers since 2020.
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