Yet the second best team in Ligue 1 in its lair of Abbé-Deschamps, AJ Auxerre did not take advantage of the reception of Dunkirk to reach the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. With an admittedly reshuffled eleven, the Burgundians logically fell against the Maritimes who showed more determination and mastery to win. Particularly disappointed by his men's first half, AJA coach Christophe Pélissier spoke at a press conference after the match.
His analysis of the game
“It’s a logical elimination given that we were absent from the debates for the first 45 minutes. We raised the level a little with the entries in the second half, but it's not enough to qualify. When we perform like this, especially in the first half, there is no need to be disappointed, simply to congratulate the opponent who was better than us. »
A costly turnover?
“We always want, in these matches, that those who have little playing time show that either I am wrong about the compositions, or that they are better. I think that tonight, unfortunately for them and for us, they didn't show that. This is a questioning that must be permanent in high-level football. As I told them, it doesn't call into question our first part of the season, but it shows some people the limits when we don't put in the demands and intensity […] When we see the result, we say to ourselves that perhaps we had too many turnovers. But then, a good part of this turnover is forced. Both because there were injured players, others who had two yellow cards. As I say, normally it's the success of a group. In this first part of the season, it is the success of a group because everyone is performing well, whether during the training week or during the start of the school year. There, some had the opportunity to start a match, and I am disappointed with the performance which led to a logical elimination. »
Did Dunkerque play at a level close to that of Ligue 1?
“Between the teams playing at the top of the table and the others, there is very little difference. We noticed it last year, we lost on penalties in Nice while being in Ligue 2. It's a professional, quality team, which is at the top of the table. So we knew before the match that there was no difference between them and us. »
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