Returning to the Abbé-Deschamps crowd to face a team competing in the Champions League: to try to get back to winning ways after four defeats in a row, AJA could not have hoped for a better motivation. Facing Brest (11th) this Friday (7 p.m., 6th day of L1), Auxerre (16th), the first to be relegated, remain on a very frustrating setback in Montpellier (3-2)again marked by errors of concentration and lack of fighting spirit as described by coach Christophe Pelissier and captain Jubal.
At home, in a stadium that is not far from being full to bursting, the Icaunais will perhaps have a little pressure, while they have conceded three goals on average over the last three matches. A defense that will have to find serenity, especially in the aerial domain. It will not be an easy task. Opposite, the Ty’Zefs, after a laborious start, have just signed two victories in three championship matches with, in addition, the first victory in their history in C1 against the Austrians of Sturm Graz. Brestois past masters in the art of the center: it is the team that has succeeded the most in Ligue 1 this season (33% efficiency) while Auxerre displays the lowest success rate (19%) of the elite.
And speaking of defense, Auxerre has (finally!) recorded the return of Gideon Mensah. The Ghanaian left-back, injured in preparation and who has not played a single league match this season, has been called up to the Auxerre squad. Having injured his buttocks before half-time in Montpellier and replaced, captain Jubal has recovered well and was due to test himself in the last training session this Thursday. And he is also fit to face the Finistériens.
Players in revolt mode according to Pelissier
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Christophe Pelissier, AJA coach, asked about the resources he can use to find a stronger team: “It involves video, explaining things well, analysing things well… It involves training, individual and collective interviews… Everyone is concerned by what is happening at the moment, conceding goals. And believe me, the players are the first to be concerned. They are sad to lose matches. And we can feel their anger. It is an important point when you are a coach.”
Diomandé: “We must be more demanding”
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Sinaly Diomandé, AJA defender, questioned on the lack of automatisms of the Auxerre defense: “These are things that can be improved over time. It’s a system that the coach has put in place, we have to adapt. On set pieces, I think it’s more about concentration. These are details that count. We have to be more demanding. Communication can also play a role. There are some who speak English, and I don’t. We’re trying to work on that aspect.”
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