The COVID-19 crisis caused the end of the various championships Europeans. We offer you on We Sport a series of reports on the various championships and clubs as it stands. Today we will tackle a very pale Green team: ASSE
Classification before the stop: 17th – 30 pts
European route: Europa Ligué: eliminated in group stages.
The retro effect
Well if we had to put a retro shot, we would realize that there are not many people in that of ASSE, if it is only the specter of Ligue 2. Unthinkable, however the Greens are indeed struggling for maintenance. Add to that internal crises, a coach’s waltz, a divided locker room and chained injuries, welcome to green hell.
The turning point of the season
It seems undeniable, it is the arrival of Claude Puel to replace a Ghislain Printant who has never lived up to the succession entrusted to him by Jean-Louis Gasset. The sad chain for the Greens of 3 years looking for a coach who had a real long-term project, after the departure of Galtier. A victory in the derby and more. Puel has ideas, struggles to put them in place and above all divides within the green cloakroom by his cold and rigorous methods. However, he seems to be the purest person in the Stéphane team this season. The last straw for a man who arrived during the season.
What the stop of the championship changes
Much obviously for the Greens. An outstanding Coupe de France final that leads to possible rumors of European qualification, a maintenance race stopped. The Greens season is even more blurred than it already was. Nevertheless, the Greens have saved time to recover their players from the many known injuries and will have time to put things right before resuming, if that has to be done.
Tops and flops
Top: How not to quote Denis Bouanga, the providential man of the Greens, author of a great season, little helped by a green team adrift, he can boast of ensuring the maintenance of the Forézien club so far. Honorable mention for Zaydou Youssouf
Flop: Stéphane Ruffier probably. An awkward communication, tensions with Puel and results far from what we knew him, we feel the beginning of the end for Ruffier in the green jersey and what a shame for a player who marked the club so much on the last decade.
Player of the season
We’re not going to repeat ourselves, but Denis Bouanga wins this title unanimously in the Loire.
Future prospects
The prospects for the future are blurred at ASSE. Despite a very interesting youth that comes from the training center and the Gambardella generation, many players from Saint-Etienne are already very old. The situation of the management board is also difficult with the double presidency and the search for a minority shareholder. Claude Puel having taken more power, he should be able to fully manage his transfer window and build a better future for the green people. May this be the case for all Stéphanois supporters.
ASSE must take advantage of this health crisis to get out of their sports crisis and find the top of the table, where their supporters deserve to be.