After having experienced a complicated start to the season, often being positioned on one side (a position which is not the one in which he was trained), Léo Pétrot also seems to be regaining color, like the team, since the resumption of the championship after the international break.
Trained at ASSE, Léo Pétrot did not manage to impose himself in the workforce of Jean-Louis Gasset. In June 2019, he had to pack his bags, and thus joined Andrézieux, then returned to the professional world in July 2021, when he signed at FC Lorient. Arrived to take a place in the reserve, the defender trained at ASSE quickly knew how to impose himself to find the highest level, and played 21 games with the professional group. Looking for players he knew well to rebuild a team, Laurent Batlles called him back to ASSE on August 30th.
Rocky beginnings
Playing his first minutes on September 5 during the trip to Pau counting for the 8th day of Ligue 2 BKT, Léo Pétrot did not experience an easy first.
He came on in place of Abdoulaye Bakayoko in the 54th minute of play when it was 1-0 for the greens. Etienne Green was sent off 9 minutes later after an uncontrolled outing on Pau FC side Erwin Kofi, following a poor defensive alignment. However Léo Pétrot did not seem concerned. And as if the punishment was not enough, Henri Saivet took charge of transforming the Free Kick directly.
A second free kick was scored directly by Henri Saivet. This time, the ball passed between Anthony Briançon and Léo Pétrot in the Saint-Etienne wall…
The left-hander of ASSE then chained the meetings as a holder during the victory against Bordeaux in a defense at 3, the greens won 2-0. In a rather defensive role, he suffered, sometimes leaving spaces, and losing 10 balls in total but held his side well. The meeting against Guingamp the following day was certainly one of the best of the start of the Saint-Etienne season, even if the greens lost 2-1 in the end. On the first goal scored by Gaëtan Courtet (45 + 2 ‘) Léo Pétrot was once again caught in the depth. Certainly one of his weak points since his arrival with the greens. But he also showed this quality of being there at the right time, when he saved the greens on a strike from Maxime Sivis in the second half by throwing himself on the ground to stop the strike from the Guingamp side.
In the 3-man system put in place by Laurent Batlles, Léo Pétrot’s role was purely defensive, and had a broad task at this left center position, aiming in particular to make up for the errors of his teammates on the sides, which did not necessarily help him, in his defensive tasks, in addition to a certain form of passivity shown only on certain opposing occasions, in particular during the second Messin goal scored by Kevin N’doram.
But, once again, Léo Pétrot responded with impact and a big presence in the defensive duels, winning 8 of the 9 duels he played and was even decisive at the end of the game after a header for Mickaël Nadé who reduced the gap.
The balance sheet of ASSE being alarming and the results not following, the coach of the greens decided to opt for a system with 4 defenders. A real nightmare for Léo Pétrot and his teammates beaten for the second time in 2 weeks by Rodez. On his side, Léo Pétrot was often late in his interventions, and was overtaken. Probably lost in this game system that Laurent Batlles had just put in place.
A second part of the season that is off to a strong start!
He is one of the most used players by Laurent Batlles since the resumption of the championship! And for good reason, holder against Annecy on December 26, he was one of the most restless from Saint-Etienne. Despite the 2-1 defeat, he was the Saint-Etienne of the meeting. On his side, he knew how to let go, and took danger to the left of the field. Third green touched the most balls (78) behind the Briançon / Nadé hinge, he showed defensive qualities when he thought he was saving the greens on the second goal of Moïse Sahi Dion, but Matthieu Dreyer remained frozen on his line, allowing the Annecy striker to double the bet.
Offensively, Léo Pétrot was also inspired, but unfortunately his attacking companions failed several times. It is from the head, on a free kick that Pétrot saw his helmet shot a few centimeters from the post of Escales. A few minutes later during a scramble in the Annecy defense, Léo Pétrot was rewarded by reducing the mark! A real fox goal from the surfaces. A nice nod to his teammate Gaëtan Charbonnier who returned 20 minutes earlier for his first minutes in the green tunic.
Also read: 🎥 Images inside the group after ASSE-DIJON
Despite the defeat, it is logical that the Stéphane coach continued with this device against Laval and Niort. The arrival of rookies has reassured the defense, with in particular a real experienced player on the right side Dennis Appiah. In addition, Saïdou Sow was able to win defensively alongside Saint-Etienne captain Anthony Briançon, while goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur, who arrived from Valenciennes, brought calm and serenity to the Saint-Etienne defense, the worst in Ligue 2 BKT!
It was with a more reassuring defense that Léo Pétrot gained self-confidence, notably offering more and more offensive solutions to his partners, and not hesitating to cross, even if the latter proved to be particularly not very dangerous. Against Laval, it is Léo Pétrot who is the only Saint-Etienne player with more than 100 balls touched (114, record of the meeting). This once again reflects the rise in power of this player both defensively and offensively against direct competitors for maintenance.
Briançon’s injury responsible for his repositioning
After much talked about coaching during the 3-2 defeat against Sochaux, Léo Petrot entered in the 76th minute and unfortunately witnessed the sinking of the Greens in the front row. Entering in place of Mathieu Cafaro, it was not easy for him to know what his role was in this Saint-Etienne defense, and the 2 goals came from his side, even if he does not seem to be the main culprit.
The meeting against Bastia was a real ordeal. While his first half was convincing alongside Saïdou Sow, the second was more difficult to manage as the greens took on water, especially on the left lane, where Niels Nkounkou experienced his second tenure in the green jersey, and hinted for the second time defensive gaps especially in the marking of his opponents.
Chaining 2 consecutive defeats, Laurent Batlles under pressure changed his system again, going back to 3/5/2 against Annecy and Dijon, with the only difference that in the defensive phases against the Savoyard club, Léo Pétrot was on the left side of a defense at 4 or Thomas Monconduit took the axis.
Although his opponents were quite weak, Léo Pétrot was literally one of the bosses of this defense, not hesitating to organize the defense, putting even more impact in the duels, and anticipating the opposing game for everything simply counter and be the first on the balls. As usual, he made duels his business, disgusting even opposing attackers. Against Dijon, he won 100% of his duels and made many sliding tackles, always with precision.
How to envisage the future?
A hinge at 3 then appeared with the presence of Dennis Appiah, Saïdou Sow and Léo Pétrot. Anthony Briançon who was gaining momentum should quickly reintegrate the group, but one wonders who instead? If Laurent Batlles keeps this system, in what position could Léo Pétrot play? The left piston position seems taken by Niels Nkounkou, and requires a lot of effort throughout the meeting. The latter seems to have better qualities to overturn the game, and cross while Léo Pétrot seems to know how to stand out better in the opposing area.
A 3-man defense is possible with Saïdou Sow, Anthony Briançon and Léo Pétrot, but what about Dennis Appiah? One thing is on Mathieu Cafaro will be suspended against Nîmes. This could allow Dennis Appiah to take the right lane and Anthony Briançon to return to the center if he is able to start the game.
More and more Saint-Etienne seem to be showing good things, and we have to think about how the team should be organized, and who should start, which is a good sign for the Saint-Etienne workforce! Taking out Léo Pétrot who is gaining momentum would be a real shame for the greens.
Article by Paul Bordet
