Less in sight at the end of 2024, the FC Metz has recovered well in recent weeks by collecting four points against Lorient (0-0) and Paris FC (3-1). Encouraging results against two other big cars in this championship and which perfectly place the Garnets, now runners-up to the Merlus, in the race for advancement.
In addition to these good sporting results, the FCM also experienced a turbulent winter transfer window. In terms of departures in particular, since Simon Elisor et Fali Cande decided to head off to other challenges, one in Portugal, the other in Italy. Asked about the possibility of seeing a player come to densify his defensive sector, Stéphane Le Mignan answered quite clearly. The Metz coach also spoke about his group and its dynamics ahead of the 20th day of Ligue 2 against Grenoble (8th).
Also read >> Mercato – Official: Simon Elisor (FC Metz) joins a new club!
Difficulties facing less well ranked training?
« The matches where we stalled a bit, notably that of Grenoble since we lost (0-2) in the first leg, we made gross errors, we failed to score against low blocks. Now it's not just that, I think there's a question of intensity too. There we knew that we were expected (editor's note: against Paris FC and Lorient), in the first leg also against opponents like Dunkerque (2-0), Lorient (1-1) or the PFC (2-1) at there as well. This is the danger of teams who are expected at the top, of being perhaps a little less disciplined in matches like this. I think it's a question of discipline, so we want to erase that in the return phase, because we don't forget that we lost against Grenoble which is today in the first part of the ranking, but also Red Star (0-1) and Troyes (1-2) which are classified in the second part of the table. »
-On the potential arrival of a defender
« It was the idea to release Fali Candé, who has had very good behavior with the team for months, at least since I knew him here. In terms of numbers, in the defensive sector, there are not too many of us and the slightest loss had to be replaced, and that is what will be done with a player who should arrive in the coming days. »
Grenoble's opponent and their new coach
« I think Franck Rizzetto will rely on Frédéric Guéguen, who has worked with the team for several weeks and who has won three times. We prepare him in relation to the last matches played since the change of coach, and this performance. Because once again, winning three consecutive matches, we didn't manage to do that for example. So it's deserving, and we have the first leg in mind where we failed to dominate, to score against this opponent. It was a defeat that hurt us at the time. Since time, things have evolved, the teams have evolved, the workforce a little too. It's a second consecutive match at home, stringing together two consecutive victories is not that simple. We want to have a big match, we had one against Paris FC. The speech is to say that we cannot have made so much effort against the PFC to lose points against Grenoble behind. We have to go for this victory at all costs and be better than in the first leg. »
Photo Daniel Derajinski/Icon Sport
