Ligue 2. Maintenance is getting closer: What can FC Annecy really hope for?

The red army of FC Annecy destroys everything, or almost, in its path. Since October 22, only Saint-Etienne (3-2) has had its skin, on February 4, in the Cauldron. To say that on August 27, at the end of the derby against Grenoble (0-0), the promoted had only two points after five days. The mutation makes you dizzy. Since then, FCA has averaged 1.6 points per game. Bordeaux, which occupies second place in the standings, the one that catapults you into Ligue 1, advances to an average of 1.75 points but from the start, and is ten points ahead of Guyot’s band.

“Anyway, either we maintain or we go up. You have understood that we are not programmed for that, that we do not have the level and even if some would think that we could do something, we are far too far. So the question is settled, ”said the technician from Annecy, after the victory against Caen (2-0) on January 31, which marked the first appearance of FCA in the top 10 of L2.

Shamal: “We are starting to be scary”

Three days later, the promoter made a place for himself there. “The maintenance is taking shape, you must not look ahead or behind,” said goalkeeper Florian Escales. With this victory against Amiens, Annecy has at least given itself the right to tackle its insane next week of competition against Sochaux (3rd, 02/25), OM in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France with a lightened spirit. France (01/03) and Metz (4th, 04/03).

“This team is incredible, savors winger Steve Shamal, who arrived last summer. We don’t worry, we have a team that works a lot, that fights for each other. Frankly, on the ground, it’s pleasant what we do. We have to remain humble but we feel that we are starting to scare the teams that face us. “Amiens took it in the face on Saturday, especially in the first period before a less successful second. “We’ve never been turned like that, we’ve already had difficult times but that was horrible,” said Picard coach Philippe Hinschberger, formerly of the GF38 house.

Guyot: “We are not the best team far from it”

A year ago, the FCA could have put on its menu the carrot of seeking the L1 accession play-offs that fifth place allowed and occupied today by Grenoble with a five-point lead over the Haut-Savoyards. It would have spiced up the Alpico which is coming soon (March 11, at the Stade des Alpes).

“We are at 32 points, there are still a few victories to go, we cannot relax, reminds Guyot. I don’t have a ranking objective, what interests me is having a group that continues to move forward, that’s what’s interesting when you’re a coach. Everything is not perfect, we are not the best team in the championship far from it, others are much better than us. But there is a style of play that emerges regardless of the changes within the team. I’m not talking about a flamboyant, exceptional game with crazy possession because it’s not us at all, but at least we have an idea. Everyone sticks to it and it shows. »

Annecy will surely not have a historic season for the L2 championship, unless it finishes with a bang until it achieves the double National-L1 ascent, achieved by few clubs including the ETG in 2010 then 2011. But it can continue to write their own story. The FCA had never gone to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. It’s done. Only once, he had signed eight straight matches without defeat in L2. It’s equal. The best ranking in its history in the hierarchy of French football? Ninth in L2 in 1991. Today, FCA is tenth. Well.