AS Saint-Etienne : “ASSE needs a good local project” | ASSE News

Zapping Goal! Football club ASSE: Laurent Hess’ editorial on the management of hope Bilal Benkhedim

Goal !: Olivier, when did you get this passion for the Greens?

Olivier SAPET: She has always been there. I am from Stéphanois. My dad used to take me to the stadium when I was little and now I’m the one bringing my kids, even though they’re old enough to go without me today. My son is in the kops. ASSE is hereditary!

Who were the heroes of your youth?

I had the chance to know the time of the Greens of 76. And after the years Platini, Rep, Janvion. In 40 years, I have seen a lot of players go by, but it is true that I was marked by Platini. It remains in the memories. The Piazza rides too, the stops for Curkovic, the flights for Jérémie Janot and Stéphane Ruffier.

Why did you join the Club des Etoiles?

Simply out of passion. It is a pleasure for me to be a partner of the club, for 17 years now. I am devoted.

So you know the current presidents?

Sure. Especially Roland Romeyer, like all Stéphanois. Bernard Caiazzo, I have seen him many times at events but Roland is more affordable. We know his attachment to the club. He is someone I appreciate. He has his heart on his sleeve.

What is your take on the club’s sale file?

We are heading for a new era and my wish is that ASSE will always be managed by a local. It’s in his DNA. This is the story of the Greens. There was Casino, Rocher, André Laurent, Roland Romeyer, Alain Bompard also whose son is Stéphanois. I am attached to the values ​​of Saint-Etienne.

“Pension funds, I’m not a fan. When you see the way the house of cards collapsed in Bordeaux … It’s dangerous. You need a good long-term project ”

There is a local project with Olivier Markarian. Have you been approached?

I’ve heard of the Markal project, of course, but I’m not in the secret of the Gods. And I was not approached, no.

Is that something you might be interested in?

Yes, but if I am asked for 20 M € it could be complicated! It all depends on where you place the cursor. I think in any case that it is a project that should be encouraged. Pension funds, I’m not a fan. When you see the way the house of cards collapsed in Bordeaux … It’s dangerous. You need a good long-term project, preferably with people who know the club and the business world.

Shareholders want to sell by the end of the year …

I know. But it seems complicated to me. It would be a good thing because there is a real need to strengthen the team. If there is no sale, a new loan will have to be made. It’s vital, I think, if we want to stay in Ligue 1.

How are you living this first part of the season?

She is terrible. I attend all the matches. We feel that we don’t have an L1 team. We have an L1 scorer with Khazri but we are much too tender. We have a lot of young players. They may have good potential for the most part, but so far they don’t have the level of L1, unfortunately. They are not supported enough. It’s a shame, including for them, because we are grilling them.

Do you regret certain departures?

Sure. I don’t understand how we were able to let a player like Mathieu Debuchy go. He was exemplary! Young people lack executives. In a company, when you have apprentices, you need more experienced people to train them.

What do you think of Claude Puel’s work?

I find it difficult to understand certain choices. We don’t keep Debuchy, we extend Hamouma in the middle of summer and we don’t play him much. We take Ramirez on the last day of the Mercato and he’s chomping at the bit on the bench. Not to mention those young people who won the Gambardella and who are forgotten, like little Benkhedim who seemed promising to me. This management concerns me. And we have the impression that there is not a good osmosis between the players and the coach. We are last. Mayonnaise does not set. And in addition, many holders will go to CAN, including Khazri. We wonder who we’re going to play with in January. It is very disturbing. There is an imperative need to strengthen this winter.

Do you understand that Puel is still in place despite his record?

I’m not particularly in favor of a change of coach when there are bad results, but I think that this relationship problem between Puel and some players is very significant. Several players have been sidelined. Including Khazri, as we wonder where we would be without him. Boudebouz too, we deprived ourselves of him for a long time when he has been doing good since his return to grace, we can see it. That’s a shame. I think this group is better than its ranking even if it is sorely lacking in experienced players, especially in defense. As for Puel, he is at the end of his contract. He won’t be here next season. I dare to hope that we will still be in L1. A descent would be terrible for the club, the city and the supporters.

to summarize

Member of the Club des Etoiles for 17 years, Olivier Sapet (54), director of the AS consulting and audit firm in Saint-Chamond, believes that ASSE has every interest in remaining under the local flag. It therefore supports the project led by Olivier Markarian.

Laurent HESS