Fabien Le Floc'h, Media365: published on Saturday January 4, 2025 at 12:46 p.m.
Inducted as ASSE coach during the winter break, Norwegian Eirik Horneland will make his debut on the Greens bench this Saturday in Ligue 1 against Reims (5 p.m.).
Eirik Horneland will certainly have imagined something else for his baptism on the bench of AS Saint-Etienne. For the reception at the Stade de Reims, this Saturday during the 16th day of Ligue 1, the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium will ring a little hollow. The two clubs, North and South, were closed by the disciplinary committee for this match and will also be closed in two weeks for the reception of Nantes. It will therefore be difficult to draw “energy from this fantastic stadium”, as Olivier Dall'Oglio's successor wanted during his first press conference. And it is not the numerous absences, like those of Ibrahim Sissoko or Yunis Abdelhamid, which are likely to reassure the 49-year-old Norwegian technician.
“Take the team up a notch”
But that didn't stop Eirik Horneland from being optimistic before his discovery of the Cauldron. “I think we were lucky to start the week with a lot of players on the pitch,” he told the press on Friday. There was a good group to start the year. » The Norwegian especially set out to change the atmosphere in Forezwhile importing new methods. Very keen on data, the former SK coach Brann wants to see his team be active on the pitch, even though they currently have the lowest possession rate in Ligue 1 (41.8%).
A desire confirmed by the Greens goalkeeper, Gautier Larsonneur. “We feel his desire to move the group forward with dynamism, a lot of activity,” he assured Friday. This week, we went to the essentials but we understood his desire to see us active. » Eirik Horneland did not say the opposite. “ For me, defense and offense go hand in handhe explained. It is important that we take the team up a notch to pose difficulties for Reims. Starting this weekend, I'm expecting an attitude. I want a team that is connected. » Saint-Etienne supporters, back in Ligue 1 this season, are also just waiting for that.
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