Zapping Goal! Football club Champions League: the full draw for the quarter-finals
“Sunday, ASSE easily beat Bordeaux (4-1). A second victory in a row in the form of a very good operation for the Greens. This time, there was the way – especially in the second half – even if the clean-sheet was ruined by a new non-existent penalty whistled against Saint-Etienne. For the first time, the team manages to go on at home after a great success away from home. She also scores four goals including three from a man who has been much maligned.
“The Top 10, a perspective not impossible”
From now on, the maintenance is almost acquired. He’s only three points missing in six games to be sure. ASSE will be able to move without pressure to Paris next Sunday and that feels good. This success against the Girondins is a great satisfaction for Claude Puel, his staff and the players. What this strange season also shows is that Saint-Etienne now has the possibility of returning to the first part of the table. Metz, the tenth, is only three points. This observation clearly shows the difficulty of the analysis over the length of a season.
The problem with supporters and observers is often the lack of half measures. Unfortunately, this is understandable. As ASSE had achieved good results during the summer, some had already believed themselves to be European. At the first difficulties, some began to panic and saw themselves in Ligue 2. We forget that with the three-point victory, the series turn quickly. The truth of one day was that Saint-Etienne – which was on the verge of relegation – can finish 8th or 9th. A logical place given the quality of the workforce and the difficulties of the season. One thing is certain: Claude Puel has managed to put in place a plan that could be improved next season.
“There is an awareness in Wahbi Khazri”
On the Bordeaux match, it is worth highlighting Wahbi Khazri, author of a hat-trick. He had already been decisive in Angers and Nîmes. Even if the language of wood wants us to say that football is above all a team sport, it is a facade speech in my eyes. This season, Khazri has simply maintained Saint-Etienne. Between him and the little Green who takes the penalty in Nîmes, Saint-Etienne was able to count on players who responded present in the big turns of the season.
At the end of the season, Wahbi Khazri became aware of his qualities. I don’t mind criticizing Claude Puel and being ironic about his choices at the start of the season, notably with the Tunisian being sidelined. Still, the striker of the Greens had not done everything well. In addition to being among the highest paid, Khazri still started the season in complete disrepair, injured and overweight. He was in a lack of consistency and work. His trainer stung him. It is to Khazri’s credit to have questioned himself. We can see it clearly today, it has changed. He’s sharper. Perhaps he also owes Claude Puel the fact that he had his chance again and that he was in his current form. Today, he is one of the essential players.
“This summer, no player will come to Saint-Etienne”
Maintaining almost acquired, ASSE will be able to start anticipating next season. An anticipation that will be very simple insofar as no player should join the Greens this summer. Saint-Etienne no longer has the means to recruit. The priority will be to extend Mathieu Debuchy and Romain Hamouma. For the rest, it will probably be necessary to do with the young people. ASSE would need a “n ° 9” more efficient than Anthony Modeste, which turned out to be a failure in winter recruitment. When I inquired, I was made to understand that this striker, the club should “make it”. That says it all … “