Eirik Horneland is preparing his first on the Saint-Etienne bench this weekend against Reims. The Norwegian coach is about to begin his first experience outside his native country. What can ASSE supporters expect from this event?
A new trio at the helm
Eirik Horneland led his first training sessions this week at the head of the Saint-Etienne men's professional team. In addition to the technical team already in place, as previously announced, he was supported by his new assistant coach, Hassan El-Fakiri (47 years old).
Alongside Hassan, Italian Andrea Loberto (50) also joined AS Saint-Étienne. Loberto will be particularly responsible for set play, a key area often overlooked.
But what can we expect from this trio?
Player choices to review?
Olivier Dall'Oglio, who arrived in December 2023, fumbled his choices for a long time. Although experienced, he was pragmatic to the detriment of his taste for a polished game. Since the start of the season, no less than 27 players have worn the green jersey in Ligue 1, a sign of the numerous tests and adjustments made.
Eirik Horneland was chosen to instill a clear playing identity at ASSE. To do this, he could redistribute the cards within the workforce. However, as a key man in the KSV project, he will also have to develop the young players recruited last summer.
An expected change in behavior
ASSE's return to Ligue 1 was quickly overshadowed by poor performances, even humiliations. The team sometimes gave the impression of giving up in the face of defeat, with sometimes apathetic behavior.
-Eirik Horneland is known in Norway for his boundless energy and his ability to galvanize his troops. He demands total investment from his players, particularly in duels and second balls, which he considers essential.
To maintain itself, ASSE will have to display more resilience, particularly during away matches, where the Greens have too often failed. To date, they have only taken one point away from Geoffroy-Guichard since August.
A different tactical approach
Eirik Horneland favors 4-3-3, like his predecessor. However, tactical animation could evolve significantly. We can wonder if Pierre Ekwah, for example, will be brought down between the two central defenders to facilitate the restart.
Will the Saint-Etienne block be positioned higher on the ground? One thing is certain, Horneland is a fan of intensive pressing. He wants to see more proactive players in this area. Additionally, the Norwegian generally relies on possession-based play.
It remains to be seen whether its current workforce will be able to meet these requirements. If so, how long will it take for the mayonnaise to set? If not, will Horneland be willing to adjust his principles?
In any case, all eyes will be on the performance of the Greens this Saturday, during the first score of the new Saint-Etienne conductor.
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