After its setbacks at Auxerre (2-1) then against Brest (1-2), the Stade de Reims failed to stop the bleeding this Sunday, November 3 on the lawn of the Toulouse Stadium by suffering its fourth defeat of the season (0-1), the third in a row.
« It was nothing! », admitted afterwards Luka Elsner who also did not want to appear too defeatist or too pessimistic. “ We can't say that the sky is blue and everything is fine!he agreed. Because it's a defeat in a negative series, obviously it's worrying and it's now urgent for us to react. »
However, the one-day Whites had started the match in the best possible way, including a big highlight after the quarter of an hour of play. But neither Diakité from close range nor Akieme from further away managed to find the target.
After this very interesting and promising moment, Toulouse regained control of the ball to more seriously worry a decisive and reassuring Yehvann Diouf, first blocking the way to Gboho (37e) then that of Aboukhlal (45e+1), well helped by Kipré, also to his advantage, who rejected Cresswell's attempt almost on the goal line following this last action.
We have a lot of absentees at the moment, especially in the midfield area and that makes it difficult for us to be able to maintain a strong rhythm throughout the match.
« We are going to win this match ”, could be heard in the passageways of the Stadium at half-time. Certainly, Téfécé had control of the game but the Stade held firm and could legitimately think of holding the point of the draw until the end. He even almost imagined the hold-up when, on a cross from his Japanese compatriot Ito, Nakamura found the crossbar of Rests of the head (81e).
It was undoubtedly the turning point of the game because three minutes later Aboukhlal was rewarded for his efforts with a superb spiked ball which hit the mark. Reims folded and therefore ended up breaking, most certainly worn out on a physical level.
« We did not respond to the athletic challenge in the last half hour, we suffered a lotrecognized the Franco-Slovenian stadium technician. We have a lot of absentees at the moment, especially in the midfield area and that makes it difficult for us to be able to maintain a strong rhythm throughout the match. Our block did not remain compact enough over time. This offered larger spaces to Toulouse. »
As Luka Elsner pointed out, there is now an urgent need to react as quickly as possible. The trip to Le Havre, very special for him, on Sunday November 10 (5 p.m.), suddenly takes on a whole new dimension. “ We must be able to respond by showing character, without giving up, above all,” he insisted before returning to his locker room to chat with his staff.
