Ligue 2 – 5th day: in Dijon, a golden opportunity for the TFC to take first place in the standings

The opportunity is almost too good for Toulouse. Faced with the cases of Covid weighing down the Ajaccio workforce, the Professional Football League (LFP) has decided to postpone the match against Paris FC, initially scheduled for this evening, to Tuesday, September 14: a boulevard towards first place opened under the feet of Toulouse players. It may be anecdotal after only 5 days of the championship, but it is always more comfortable to observe the competition from the first step of the podium than from the second.

Especially since the symbol would be strong, for a club which systematically tripped over the carpet last season when climbing to the throne. Four times, Tef had had the opportunity, but each time Troyes or Clermont had invited him to pass after a misstep, he had always refused. Last week, after a stifling match against Bastia (1-0), Toulouse had cracked its glass ceiling by seizing first place a few hours, before Paris recovered it two days later. Now is the time to break this glass ceiling.

Storm on the Côte-d’Or

Before what one could consider as a shock of Ligue 2, between TFC and a relegated Dijon who almost crossed in the elevator, Philippe Montanier for his part played the card of caution. has a positive dynamic, the hardest thing is to maintain it. We are between confidence and mistrust, because we know that the opponent is formidable “recalled the coach of a Toulouse team still undefeated and who remains on three wins in a row.

“Redoubtable”, the Dijon opponent is perhaps by his status, much less by his recent performances. 18th in the standings, still looking for its first victory (3D, 1N), the DFCO is navigating in the midst of a nightmare and has been showing signs of panic for several days, like this press conference hastily organized this Tuesday by the club president, Olivier Delcourt. On the dais, the Burgundian boss confirmed that David Linares would be on the bench for the reception of Toulouse, two days after warning players and staff that a defeat against Queuvilly-Rouen would not remain without consequences, like the reported L’Equipe. This match, Dijon lost, and David Linares is still there, although its president confirmed to have launched research for a new coach. Funny atmosphere.

“The adversary, it could be ourselves”

The signals therefore seem to be as green for Toulouse as they are red for Dijon. “But we know that the opponent can be ourselves … The slightest slackening can be fatal” alerted Philippe Montanier, who will be looking for a match that is finally full this afternoon: “We will need more of mastery, and that we create more chances than what I have seen in previous matches, “he insisted. After two victories won on the wire, in Pau and against Bastia (1-0 each time), the TFC is still chasing its reference match, but at least fulfilled one of its objectives: “We really wanted to be in the first two and hold this position as long as possible. Even if this is not significant on the first days, staying at the top will obviously be one of our leitmotifs. “