Pro D2 – Oyonnax must relaunch against Stade Mons

Returning from their last trip to Valence-Romans with disappointment, the Oyonnaxiens also brought back certain convictions as to the evolution initiated in their game, but also as to the obligations imposed on them, after eleven days, to find in the ranking a place more in line with their ambitions and the reality of their potential.

It is in this context that they are approaching the end of the year which promises to be particularly important. Fabien Cibray, the manager, joined and supported since the start of the week by Joe El Abd, returning from his first “freelance” with the XV de la Rose while awaiting that of the 6 Nations tournament, corrects “all matches are important, and for all teams”. However, he concedes a particular character to this return in front of the Mathon public, against Mont-de-Marsan: “We have an obligation to make amends for the defeat we conceded during our last home match against Grenoble”.

This expectation is necessarily shared by the players, by all the components of the club and of course by the supporters. There is no shortage of levers to satisfy it and they have not escaped the analysis of the staff. They include precision in footwork, discipline, accuracy in choices as well as in the conduct of actions, efficiency in conquest.

The main thing: the game

In fact, everything that this team has in it and which, at certain times, may have been lacking since the start of the season. The observation does not inspire Fabien Cibray with grand formulas. Two words are enough for him to express what the watchword will be against the Montois: “Be us”. Fourteenth, Oyonnax needs to get back on track. The evidence hides another, to do so the people of Aindin simply need to find themselves. And this is what the work of the last few days has tended towards: “We sought to optimize the period between two blocks, to create intensity, with players fully involved” underlines the Haut-Bugey manager, pointing out some positive signs: “We still have a lot of injuries, but we have nevertheless recorded the return of a few players, to which must be added those of the internationals. By expanding the group we have brought back competition, created emulation.”

Throughout the last few days, with the two meaningful words from their manager in their heads, and without any other form of pressure, the players focused on the essential, their game.