The 2019/2020 season could not be completed because of the health crisis and it may have been bad for good for AS Saint-Étienne. Seventeenth in the championship at the time of the end of the competitions, the Greens have saved their place among the elite of French football. This is the first time in 10 years that ASSE has not finished in the top 10 of Ligue 1 (in 2009/2010 the Greens finished 17th). Only the Coupe de France and that final lost against PSG on July 24 brought some clarity to this gloomy season.
Puel expected at the turn
Landed in Forez during the season (October 04) to straighten the bar after a catastrophic start to the season under Ghislain Printant, Claude Puel only very partially succeeded in his mission. The victory in the derby against Lyon (1-0 on October 6, 2019), barely two days after his appointment, did not have the desired effect and the club never really managed to string together good performances.
Appointed general manager, the former coach of Monaco, Lille and Nice has full sporting powers in the Forez. Even if the preparation was split in two by the final of the Coupe de France, Claude Puel, this year, had time to impose his claw and his precepts. The results are so far mixed if we judge by the results of the preparation matches with four wins and three losses.
The bet of youth
A preparation marked in particular by the divorce consummated with Stéphane Ruffier kicked out of the hierarchy of goalkeepers for the new season and the sidelining of Ryad Boudebouz, Whabi Khazri and Yann M’Vila for the internship in Dinard (Ille-et Vilaine ). These four are the biggest salaries of the club and the club want to reduce its payroll.
In this context, young people from the Saint-Etienne nursery are starting to emerge. Wesley Fofana, Mahdi Camara, Zaydou Youssuf have already had the opportunity to show great promises in the green jersey last season. This year it could be the turn of Stefan Bajic (goalkeeper), Aïmen Moueffek (middle), Lucas Gourna-Douath (middle) and Maxence Rivera (striker).
Adil Aouchiche as standard
In this logic of advancing young people at the highest level, AS Saint-Étienne made the bet to recruit Adil Aouchiche. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder is currently the Greens’ flagship rookie. Arrived free from Paris Saint-Germain, he is the symbol of Claude Puel’s sporting project and is eagerly awaited by supporters. Will he be able to meet this expectation and confirm his potential at the highest level? You will probably have to be patient.
Of the movement expected during the transfer window
With Adil Aouchiche, only Jean-Philippe Krasso (Épinal) and Yvan Neyou (loan from Braga in Portugal) have so far joined AS Saint-Étienne this summer. The transfer window reopened its doors this Saturday, August 15. It will close on October 05. The clubs therefore have seven weeks to strengthen.
The Greens will no doubt be looking for a central defender, one or two full-backs, an experienced midfielder with a defensive profile and an attacker. But it is perhaps on the departures side that the ASSE transfer market could be agitated. Denis Bouanga, best Stéphanois last season (10 goals) is coveted. In the event of a large supply, it will be difficult to keep it in the Forez.