Performing with FC Metz, Habib Maga (24, 26 games and 1 goal in L1 this season), however, failed to break through AS Saint-Etienne, his training club. For the midfielder, his failure is notably linked to former coach Jean-Louis Gasset who refused to trust him.
“In Saint-Etienne, the young people were not put forward, the Ivorian explained to Sportmania. When the coach (Oscar) Garcia came, he trusted a few young people but the leaders wanted results right away . I only made one game against Lille with the interim Julien Sablé. “
“Suddenly, with the recruitment of Gasset, several experienced players signed in Saint-Etienne, remembered Messin. He did not know me and did not trust me. I had good training sessions like left back, right, defensive midfielder … Why didn’t he trust me? I don’t know. Certainly he had the pressure of the results. “
Indeed, Gasset was responsible for ensuring the maintenance of the Greens during this 2017-2018 season finally ended in 7th place in Ligue 1.