ASSE organized a “media day” this Thursday at L’Etrat 8 days before the final of the Coupe de France against PSG.
AS Saint-Etienne general manager Claude Puel has confirmed defender William Saliba will not play in the Coupe de France final due to a lack of agreement with his new club, Arsenal. Saliba was transferred a year ago to the London club for 25 million euros and was transferred to the Greens for 1 year to play with them the past season. “William will be absent” in the match between ASSE and PSG on July 24, the Greens coach only said. As a reminder: his absence precipitated the return from loan of central defender Harold Moukoudi who played in Middlesborough (2nd English div.).
The Ruffier affair mentioned
Claude Puel estimated Thursday that the dispute between the Forézien club and his goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier, laid off by ASSE, was “an epiphenomenon”. The French international goalkeeper (33 years old, 3 selections) must be received by his management on July 22. “For me, it’s an epiphenomenon insofar as a player, who sees his position called into question, slips, like his entourage. He penalizes himself but I do not want him to penalize the group which prepares the final of the Coupe de France, I must be the guarantor and protect the workforce, “said Puel during this” media day “at Etrat.