Fifteenth in Ligue 1, Saint-Etienne displayed a very disturbing face Sunday afternoon on the lawn of Metz (3-1).
A week after their home success against Nîmes, Claude Puel’s men were eagerly awaited. They did not pass the test successfully against Metz, with a heavy defeat at the end. A setback that does not allow Saint-Etienne to move up the rankings, and which promises a long second half of the season to Forézien supporters. However, Captain Loïc Perrin refuses to sink into pessimism. At a press conference before the Marseille reception on Wednesday evening, the defense pillar of ASSE, struggling for a few weeks, wanted to be resolutely optimistic.
Perrin’s wink at Payet
“There is nothing dramatic about the accounting. We’re not where we want to be, it’s true, but the championship is very close. Even if it will be difficult to play the European places, it is necessary to chain victories to go up because each missed opportunity is paid. We’re lucky to have matches. It’s a good thing, especially with this beautiful poster which is a classic of the championship. It will allow us to show that we are not in our place against the second in Ligue 1 “ said Loïc Perrin, before continuing.
“After a complicated period, Marseille made an incredible end of the year and remains on a good series of matches which allowed them to replace themselves. It’s a good second and it’s okay to see this club there. Marseille is programmed to play first places with its quality players ”. Finally, Loïc Perrin spoke about Dimitri Payet, factor X from Marseille, who wore the colors of ASSE at the start of his career. “Dimitri is a truly talented player who has exploded with AS Saint-Etienne. This is where he crossed a threshold that allowed him to become a player of international level “. Hopefully for the Greens that the international tricolor is not in shape on Wednesday because when this is the case, Olympique de Marseille often wins …