Affected during preparation, the Valais veteran (he will be 39 in January) has finally become a Super League player again. It was one of the goals of his end of career: to be captain of FC Sion after having brought it back to the elite. This has been done since late Saturday afternoon. And he could even have become the hero of an entire stadium, if he had converted his free kick taken from 20 meters at the very end of the game…
“I was ready to play and it was a lot of sacrifices,” breathed the Genevan. I have a lot of people to thank and maybe this isn’t the time or place to do it… But there are tons of people who have helped me. It wasn’t easy, because it was the most serious injury of my career. I would have hoped for a different return to the Super League, but now I’m here again and I’m very happy.
Reto Ziegler returned and undoubtedly had a slightly strange match. Because FC Sion dominated Yverdon, it’s true. But his club lacked accuracy in the zone of truth for a long time and it ended up being glaring, by force. The Nord-Vaudois stood back, saved a few balls that were lying on their line and ended up taking the advantage on one of their four shots of the match (only one on target), and not necessarily the one that excited the fans the most. ‘expected goals.
“There is a bit of frustration following this game,” grumbled Ziegler, who railed a little against the fate and the lack of lucidity of his team in front of the goal. Obviously, when you have tried your luck 21 times and the opposing goalkeeper has only made three saves, there is something wrong with the finishing. Whether it’s at the level of commitment in this damn zone of truth or a bit of lack of confidence when launching his strike.
“We created a lot of chances and it’s not an easy thing to do. That’s the positive point, continued Ziegler. Afterwards, we missed a little accuracy in the last gesture. But we didn’t give up, we continued to believe in it. I think we really could have passed the shoulder.”
Fortunately for FC Sion, it had Ilyas Chouaref in its ranks. The Frenchman was one of the only ones to break lines and it was he who allowed his club not to lose at home for the first time this season, with an assist for Dejan Sorgic (81st). The former Châteauroux player (23 years old) also scored his two shots of the match, completed three dribbles, touched the ball almost 60 times… In the oven and in the mill, therefore, and he even almost made bread with it. his big chance at the very end of the match.
“We have to make it happen. There’s no mystery: it’s the job, the captain finished. I’m not worried, because I know that in the next match, it will go in. Now it’s a truce. We’re going to play another friendly match against Stade Lausanne Ouchy, if I’m not mistaken, and we’re really going to focus on the last thirty meters. That’s what will make the difference: we will continue to work.”
When it’s the captain who says it, we listen and we work.
