Out of reach of the Top 5, SM Caen gave itself the right to hope again for the race for the Top 5 by winning last week against Laval (1-0) and taking advantage of the missteps of Pau, Rodez and Paris FC. Here are the Malherbistes sixth, one point from fifth place when they go to Dunkirk this Friday.
The goal: success
“A draw at Dunkirk could just allow us to pick up the fifthexplains the Caen coach. We would therefore not necessarily have the cards in hand for the last match. The idea is to have the cards in hand on Friday evening against Valenciennes regardless of what happens in the other stadiums. But the championship is so complicated to read that perhaps Rodez will win at Saint Etienne, Nicolas Seube immediately recalls. It’s a possibility, it’s a good away team. I’m not sure that Saint Etienne wins this match even if it would suit us (Smile).”
The first five minutes of the match
The team of Nicolas Seube wants to take care of his start to the match so as not to be penalized against the Northerners. “This is what cost us the match at Saint Etienne (1-0) because the other 85 minutes were of great qualityrecalls the SMC coach. I loved how things took charge against Laval. I felt a team that wanted to do great things together, that wanted to put pressure on the opponent. I’m waiting for that. The players today are equipped mentally and physically with the ability to play matches at this level. They know that in order for us to pass we must be at that level.”
The opponent: Dunkirk
Penultimate at the end of the first phase with only 13 pts in 19 matches, Dunkerque changed coach, players and gear in the return phase. The Northerners pocketed 31 pts and only lost 4 times over the next 17 days. Only Saint-Etienne has done better in the division over this period. “They are a formidable opponent even if at home they are less efficient than away. They have regulated a lot of things with a transfer window which has made it possible to have a much more balanced team structure. On paper , we can say that it is a simpler calendar than the others (Dunkirk then Valenciennes) but once again it is only on paper I do not look at the ranking but at the dynamics.
The Caen squad
Hit in the knee during Wednesday’s session, Ali Abdi will be forfeited. “As we speak, it is difficult to know the duration. We will have to see the evolution” explained the Caen coach, recalling that for the same injury Alexandre Coeff had returned quite quickly. To replace him on the left-back position, the Caen coach would have to choose between precisely Alexandre Coeff And Diabé Bolumbu. “It’s not because Ali is not there that we are going to change our game plan. Now, we will do with player profiles different from Ali. Diabé combines power and speed and comes closest to the Ali’s profile Afterwards, in terms of experience, it’s Alex Coeff who comes closest.”
Anthony Mandrea also missed the last session this Thursday. The Caen goalkeeper suffers from gastric problems. Nicolas Seube plans to travel to Dunkirk with three goalkeepers to ward off a possible withdrawal.
Caen supporters
The parking lot (256 places) at the Stade Tribut de Dunkerque should be full. And the last Malherbistes training this Thursday was followed by 150 supporters. “It’s good for us and for the club, savors the attacker Godson Kyeremeh . We are very happy that they are there to encourage us, whether away or at home. We saw it clearly this weekend, on Bilal’s goal (Brahimi against Laval) with the explosion at the Stadium. It’s important to experience moments like that. And when we know that the public is there it gives us additional strength. When you hear the fans shouting, it gives you a little extra boost.”
