On a four-day training camp in Roccaraso, in the south of Abruzzo, where they arrived on Tuesday afternoon, the Brestois have switched to “Champions League mode” in their preparation, even if one could object that Napoli, their first Italian opponent of the week, will not be European next season.
Antonio Conte’s new team is, however, of a much different calibre than those encountered so far this summer, namely Avranches (N2, 2-0), Lorient (L2, 1-1) and Laval (L2, 0-1), and the Finistériens were able to see the intensity displayed by a team that has high-level players. This is what we came fornoted the coach, Eric Roy. We wanted to go after them, to press them and so we suffered counter-attacks. We had more possession, they had more chances. »
A left corridor in pain
In the Teofilo Patini stadium in Castel di Sangro (7,000 seats), where the Neapolitans are training, the Bretons were not ridiculous, but they suffered when the duels intensified and they gave in, once, to a classy sequence from Giacomo Raspadori (0-1, 42nd).
And on a ball that came, once too often, from the right side, where the absence of Bradley Locko (JO) was sorely felt, since it was Martins Pereira Lage who occupied the left-back position. But we now know (well) his understudy, Jordan Amavi, who has terminated his contract with OM to sign a year with the club where he was loaned last season. He joined the group half an hour before the start of the match and he even came on in the 78th minute.
First starts for Ndiaye and Ajorque
Still behind, in front of a Marco Bizot who was decisive on several occasions, Roy had decided to associate Julien Le Cardinal with Abdoulaye Ndiaye – first start for his recruit -, aggressive in the duels but lacking automatisms. This is also what was missing from Ludovic Ajorque, who inaugurated his new jersey, at the forefront, with very little success (removed in the 69th). Jérémy Le Douaron again finished at the forefront, but it is not a lasting solution and it is the entire offensive compartment which had difficulty. We are on a tight schedule “, repeated the Brest coach.
This is a priority area that will need to be improved from next Saturday (9pm, in Pescara), against Juventus, then Newcastle, a week later. Because the following weekend, it is Marseille who will be at Le Blé.
