AS Saint-Etienne : “We must take our responsibilities”: AS Saint-Etienne had not experienced this since 1988-89 | ASSE News

“A lot of frustration, summed up Jean-Philippe Krasso at the microphone of our colleagues from Canal Plus, bemoaning Hwang Ui-jo’s early scoring opener (7th minute). In the first half, we got picked up hot (sic), but then we did some good things. “Same story with his coach, Claude Puel:”Apart from the first quarter of an hour, I found our animation interesting. It is paradoxical because we take two avoidable goals and we have many situations with actions well carried out and badly completed.. “

It’s true that Saint-É didn’t miss everything in this game. In terms of scoring opportunities, the Stéphanois had nothing to envy their Bordeaux rivals. They were ineffective without showing any appalling awkwardness (5 shots on target to 3 in their favor, for example). And weren’t helped by heaven, according to their coach: “The storm and the weather conditions prevented us from playing, especially in our penalty area. “

“With the weather, it was very complicated”

Krasso also pointed this out. On a lawn so saturated with water, it was less and less a question of technique and tactics as the game progressed: “In the second half, with the weather, it was very complicated (…)It was necessary to put other ingredients, it was in the mind, in the determination. “In this area, it is Bordeaux that looks at the statistics sheet with a smile (54.8% of duels won by visitors, and even 73.7% of aerial duels).

However, it is the scam that the locals have re-glued. When Wahbi Khazri scored, following good pressing and a powerful close-angle strike, the winds of revolt seemed to ring. Especially since this equalization intervened in confusion, after a long stoppage of play, which ulcerated Benoît Costil, warned in the wake. Add to that an invigorated Cauldron and there was everything to believe in a change of momentum.

“ASSE is not where it should be”

But it was Hwang Ui-jo who struck again late in the game. What pestered Puel at a press conference: “After the equalizer, we should not have taken this second goal. “Then Harold Moukoudi had the ball 2-2 in the feet, but his shot was slowed by a puddle before being pushed back on his line by Timothée Pembélé. As if nothing could go in the direction of ASSE, which sadly celebrated the 90th anniversary of Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday evening.

“When it turns out, it will be beneficial. But inevitably, for the moment, we are concerned about the situation and aware of it. ASSE is not where it should be“, commented Moukoudi, who risks rehashing his goal for a long time: “On my occasion, the water stops the ball in front of the line …“

A group “not defeated”

It’s not all about success or the weather, according to Puel: “We are unhappy in certain situations because there was a flagrant penalty in the first half (…) I regret the headwind that we suffered because in the intentions it was better than in previous matches. “An improvement that does not therefore translate into the results curve of the Stéphanois, who have just had three losses and still have not experienced the joys of success in L1 this season.

Next opportunity to remedy it? In a few days, on the Rock. “We intend to deliver a big game in Monaco on Wednesday (…) We have to take our responsibilities. I make sure the group is focused on the next matches and is not dejected“, concludes Moukoudi.