Neuchâtel Xamax has hit rock bottom. The “red and black” football club was swept aside on Friday evening at La Maladière by Aarau 3-1 in the Challenge League. With only three points taken from the last six matches, Uli Forte’s team have given themselves a crisis for the winter break.
Xamax was scuttled
Despite an ideal start to the match and the early opening score of Jesse Hautier (2nd), Neuchâtel Xamax failed to exploit the defensive generosity of its opponent. The “red and black” may particularly regret that Shkelqim Demhasaj’s shot in the 26th minute of play found the Aargau goalkeeper’s post. Worse still, Uli Forte’s team gave the match to their opponent alone by offering them three goals from defensive errors. Trailing 2-1 15 minutes from time, the Neuchâtel residents believed in their lucky star when the former “red and black” Henri Koide was severely sent off for a second yellow. Weary for them, it only took five minutes for Nikola Gjorgjev to score 3-1 while outnumbered. “I’m the first to question myself. I want to know why we fell so low after our good start,” said coach Uli Forte who seemed touched after the match.
A meeting with the president
Although he does not feel threatened for the moment, Uli Forte still had to report to his president on Friday evening. Jean-François Collet joined the locker room after the match for a frank discussion with the players and staff. “The president told us that it was not enough because we had a very negative end to the first round, especially here in front of our audience,” confides Uli Forte. The future of the Italian-Swiss technician on the “red and black” bench is therefore not (yet) a subject in the spans of La Maladière.
At the winter break, Neuchâtel Xamax occupies sixth place in the Challenge League with nine points ahead of bottom side Schaffhausen, but with one game less. The Xamaxians are now on vacation and will return to training on Friday January 3./dpi
The telegram
The ranking
Damien Piscopiello’s comment
A sick team, without soul or personality: this is what Neuchâtel Xamax has been reminding us of for six matches now. Of the 18 points at stake, Kenan Faktic and his teammates only took three and must now look behind them in the standings. Because with a rearguard which has conceded 36 goals in 18 matches, or two per match, Xamax has a relegation defense. The time has come for urgency because despite a flashy and rather consistent transfer window this summer, the “red and black” have only garnered two points more than last season at the same time. Beyond the numbers, the impression on the ground does not lie. This team has no leader, no playing system, no identity. Going to La Maladière this season is a bit like reading Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde. Uli Forte’s squad can give you a beautiful or a horrible face, as was the case against Aarau. The “red and black” board now has three weeks to try to save this season by strengthening the squad as well as bringing back into line the players who have not yet understood the importance of the Xamax logo. He will also have to decide whether Uli Forte is still the man for the job.
Swiss
