Claude Puel, coach of Saint-Etienne (19th), in a press conference this Thursday before the reception of Bordeaux (Saturday, 9 p.m.) for the 6th day of Ligue 1: “It’s a bad start, it’s up to us to face it and correct it. The first three matches were interesting even if we could have been better rewarded, especially the one against Lens. The last two matches, on the other hand, were not enough, especially our first half in Marseille and our second half in Montpellier. In these two away matches, we did not perform well enough, especially at halftime. We have to correct that, we’re late.
Being relegated is no fun. But it can help us react and get out of there as quickly as possible. We know that it is not an easy start to the Championship for us, which is insufficient over the last two matches. We have a schedule that is not obvious, we face seven of the first eight of the last Championship in our first matches, we have had two difficult matches away, in Marseille and Montpellier.
But that’s how it is, we have to take it as a challenge, and take it up. These are great challenges. We’re going to play Bordeaux, which is in the same situation as us, it’s going to be a tough match. Then we will continue against Monaco, Nice, Lyon … But I would always prefer this kind of high-stakes matches, because it’s competition and we are competitors. We will take up these challenges. “