Decimated by a multitude of positive cases for Covid-19, the Saint-Etienne team lost 1 to 0 against Strasbourg this Sunday (3 p.m.) with seven holders out of eleven trained in the Greens, the staff having had to call on young people without experience.
At the Meinau, the Greens lived a funny Sunday, without their coach Claude Puel, his staff and a dozen usual players, all affected by Covid-19 and forced to stay at home. The technical manager of the training center, Laurent Huard, led a team supplemented by reservists and young people, with seven holders out of eleven trained at the club, and no keeper in the event of injury to the holder Jessy Moulin!
Saint-Etienne almost surprised Strasbourg from the start with a penalty obtained by the young Aïmen Moueffek, 19, but the experienced Ryad Boudebouz missed him (10th). Ludovic Ajorque did not miss his chance (29th) and allowed the Alsatians to pocket a third victory in a row, with a 13th place as a reward.
Strasbourg is only three points behind Brest (11th) which, despite a great start at home, lost in the 100% Breton duel against Rennes. “We know the value of these three points here, where a lot of teams have broken their teeth“, savored the trainer Julien Stéphan pointing”a 7th unbeaten game and a first victory in 2021“.
“In Green and against everything”, had announced the ASSE before this strange meeting
“They are 12 out of 18 elements present on the match sheet to have made their classes within the Saint-Etienne club“, says the club on its website.
On Friday, ASSE said tests had “revealed numerous positive cases for COVID-19 among professional group players and staff“, casting doubt on the holding of the match counting for the 20th day of Ligue 1.
Among the rare executives present at Meinau, goalkeeper Jessy Moulin and attacking midfielder Ryad Boudebouz will supervise a very rejuvenated team by the presence, in particular, of defender Saïdou Sow (18 years old) and midfielders Lucas Gourna (17 years old) and Aïmen Moueffek (19 years old).
The medical protocol decreed by the Professional Football League (LFP) at the beginning of September envisages the postponement of a match if one of the two teams cannot present at least 20 players tested negative on an initial list of 30.
The League was forced on Friday to postpone the Lorient-Dijon match counting for the 20th day of Ligue 1 indefinitely, because more than ten players from the Breton club were affected by the Covid-19.