In great form since the start of the return matches, Raf can in particular rely on better defensive efficiency than at the start of the season.
Lhe Ligue 2 is a playoff championship. “ After the victory at Auxerre (1-0) on Saturday, Laurent Peyrelade recalled how much the dynamics could carry, or lead, depending on their nature, the protagonists of the division. The Ruthenian coach is in a good position to talk about it, since his team’s season covers two opposing poles: a downward spiral of 14 games without a win in the first leg; tremendous momentum in the return matches, with 5 wins in 8 matches.
In between, a lot has changed in the game of blood and gold, “better connected and more dynamic”, as their technician often says. We could add more inspired, more daring but also more rigorous. Solidity, after having been lacking for a long time, is now one of the main assets of the Aveyron team. Because if David Douline’s teammates come out with their heads held high from their formidable month of February, during which they faced four of the top five in the standings, it is partly thanks to their defensive behavior. They managed to beat three candidates for the podium, Clermont (2-0), Toulouse (1-0) and Auxerre, each time preserving their inviolate goal.
“In the first leg, we could not keep the score. Now we are more solid”, appreciated the coach. Question solidity, the Raf is even becoming a benchmark, since it has the best defensive record in L2 since the start of the return phase, with only four goals conceded. The service in Burgundy on Saturday also highlighted the elements at the origin of this hermeticity. First of all, an unfailing solidarity, since the defensive work, particularly against the big names, is everyone’s business. Then, a flawless concentration, to avoid mistakes with serious consequences, which polluted the start of the Raf season. “At the moment, the players are showing a super strong mental rigor”, had explained Laurent Peyrelade, last week, while recognizing that the many changes to which he resorts aim, also, to preserve the mental freshness of his group.
The important contributions of Mpasi and Célestine
Despite collective strength, improved defensive performance is also the result of individual performance and choice in the men who make up the rear. One of coach Rouergat’s first landmark decisions was to field Lionel Mpasi in goal, rather than Théo Guivarch, who was guilty of several mistakes in the fall. Since his first match of the season, in Le Havre (1-1), just before the break, the goalkeeper passed through the training center of Paris Saint-Germain has known only one defeat (against Troyes, the leader, 2-1, two weeks ago). Against Auxerre, he was very good, making an important save just before Raf’s goal. And it had already proved decisive previously, especially against Niort (1-1) or Clermont (2-0).
The other notable contribution is that of Julien Célestine, a recruit who disembarked from Latvia in January. The left-hander quickly settled in the center of the three-way defense, bringing his size, impact and fighting spirit, which the Ruthenians lacked. He has already found his marks alongside Pierre Bardy, Joris Chougrani or Amiran Sanaia, the other most used defenders since the start of the year.
Conversely, other players seem to have lost points at the same time. In addition to Théo Guivarch, this is the case of Loïc Poujol and Yohan Roche, who have moved back in the hierarchy. Until when ? Hard to say. But if Rodez’s defensive strength is confirmed in the coming weeks, something tells us that the cards will not be redistributed immediately …
5
Since the start of the return phase, the Ruthenians have signed five clean sheets in eight games, against Pau (1-0), Dunkirk (0-0), Clermont (2-0), Toulouse (1-0) and Auxerre ( 0-0). A record that contrasts with that of the first half of the season, during which they had preserved their inviolate goal only on the first day, against Grenoble (1-0).
Laurent Peyrelade will be able to count on an almost complete workforce in order to prepare for the meeting in Ajaccio, tomorrow at 8 p.m. Midfielder Rémy Boissier, suspended from Auxerre, will be able to return to the group and only Aurélien Tertereau, long injured, will miss the call.
The day after the victory at Auxerre, the training program was varied for the players: recovery for those who played in Burgundy, more intense session for those who had been left on the bench or at rest.
Rémy Boissier back from suspension against Ajaccio
Calendar: end of the marathon in Ajaccio
No time to breathe. Raf will not have the opportunity to savor its performance for long at Auxerre, since a second consecutive trip awaits it tomorrow, with a match in Ajaccio, at 8 p.m. This meeting will mark the end of a marathon of 19 matches, including two of the Coupe de France, in 3 months.
The rest promises to be less dense. After Ajaccio, the Ruthenians will have a week and a half of break before the reception of Valenciennes, Saturday March 13. Barring unforeseen events, the rest of the season will resume at a more usual pace of one meeting per week until the end. With one exception: the trip to Châteauroux (34th day) is scheduled for Tuesday April 20, in the middle of the Paris FC and Le Havre receptions.
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