Zapping Goal! Football club Coupe de France: the draw for the 32nd final
“Against Brest, ASSE was bad. From the moment the Greens scored the first goal, they contracted. At 1-0, there was a lot of nonchalance, technical imprecision, waste. We fell back into the pitfalls that made Saint-Etienne plunge in the standings.
After this match, several feelings intertwine: disappointment, of course, but also anger and a feeling of shame. Without wanting to insult the Stade Brestois, it is still abnormal that this team passes six goals to ASSE in two games and takes six points out of six. It is also abnormal to see ASSE giving way in this way. At the Parc des Princes the previous week, Angel Di Maria had already allowed himself a small bridge in the middle of the surface. There, against the Bretons, Harold Moukoudi was taken for a ride by Gaëtan Charbonnier on the second goal … It is still very worrying to see that at home and against Brest the best player from Saint-Etienne is Etienne Green, a goalkeeper of goal which only played its third professional game.
“Some must do more, Khazri included”
Of course, Yvan Neyou was missing in the middle but some must also do more. I am thinking in particular of the scorer of the match Wahbi Khazri. I had said of the Tunisian that he had saved, through his goals, ASSE from relegation and I stand by him. Still, against Brest, he is not exempt from all reproaches. After his goal, I had the impression that he had stopped the efforts. Like the rest of the team. In general, there is something to be revolted by following this shameful performance. After this 34th day, ASSE could return to 10th place. Now, in view of the calendar (Montpellier, Marseille, Lille, Dijon), it is quite possible that Saint-Etienne will finish 15th or 16th.
“Aouchiche, it’s neither Platini nor Zidane”
Following this defeat, I still wonder about two decisions of Claude Puel: the non-start of Romain Hamouma and the confidence given unreservedly to Adil Aouchiche. Saturday, ASSE lacked a technical guarantee. No doubt there are reasons, but I don’t understand why Hamouma is being used as a joker. With Khazri, they’re the kind of players who are able to make a difference. It was launched too late for my taste.
Regarding the Aouchiche case, I find it difficult to understand that it is not more competitive. No doubt the coach has valid reasons but why do not we give more chance to a Bilal Benkhedim? What are the reasons that make Maxence Rivera disappear from the group? Personally, I don’t find Adil Aouchiche’s performances great. It is not Platini, nor Zidane … Obviously, we are talking about a player who has a margin of progress known to all. But I am starting to seriously wonder about the fact that it is systematically preferred to some ”.