Sakari Manninen and the GSHC are still looking at the top of the rankings, which is getting further and further away.
BASTIEN GALLAY / GALLAYPHOTO
The cold reality of numbers. Genève-Servette may have had two good performances on Friday against Zurich and Saturday in Lausanne, against two of the best teams in the country, but it concluded its weekend with zero points. In the National League rankings, it stagnates in an unworthy twelfth place in view of the squad available and expectations at the start of the season.
As a reminder, the Garnet, after a season without a play-off, were aiming for direct qualification for the playoffs. That is to say, rank among the top six in the National League. After 28 matches, Jan Cadieux's men are thirteen points behind Zug, sixth with two more games played.
A leader's pace is necessary
When reading the ranking, a question arises: can the GSHC still believe it. “Obviously we believe in it,” replies defender Arnaud Jacquemet. If that wasn't the case, there would be no point in playing after Christmas. But from now on, we have to stop making excuses and start taking points, whatever the way.”
The National League rankings for December 22.
SIHF
Exactly, how many units do the Servettians need to finish the regular season in the top 6? In 2023-2024, the sixth, Davos, concluded the championship with 85 points. To reach this total, the reigning European champion will have to average 2.04 points per game. “We have the quality to do it,” assures Arnaud Jacquemet.
Optimism is one thing. The reality of statistics is another. Only one team has a better average since the start of the exercise. This is Zurich (2.07). Even in 2023-2024, the year of its Swiss champion title, Genève-Servette (1.95) did not do as well.
The precedent of 2021-2022
“I also made this calculation,” admits Jan Cadieux. And I know we can do it. We proved it in 2021-2022.” Between November 10, the date on which the technician replaced Pat Emond in the squad, and March 14, his team had collected 65 units in 29 games (2.24). Except that she started from further away and was finally eliminated in the preplay-off.
The task is immense. “We will first focus on Monday's trip to Ajoie. Then, we will start from scratch in January, explains Jan Cadieux. We will separate the end of the championship into segments of five matches where it will be a question of taking as many points as possible each time.
Jan Cadieux, coach of Genève-Servette, believes that his team has the means to move up the hierarchy.
BASTIEN GALLAY / GALLAYPHOTO
As you will have understood, direct qualification for the play-offs is an almost impossible mission for the Eagles.
In the event of failure, there will always be the perilous play-ins. “No matter the path, we have to play the play-offs this season, a club of the caliber of Genève-Servette cannot afford to miss them a third time in four years,” warns Arnaud Jacquemet.
