Nothing is going well in Le Havre! Sunday, on the occasion of the 15th day of Ligue 1, the Ciel et Marine experienced a new disappointment. In front of 17,071 spectators, the lowest attendance at the Stade Océane since the club's rise to the elite of French football, the Hacmens suffered the law of the Racing Club de Strasbourg (0-3). Despite an encouraging start to the match with a first situation for Steve Ngoura, the HAC finally sank in just four minutes (28th, 32nd) before conceding a new goal at the end of regulation time (90th). A new setback leaving the Normans in a worrying seventeenth place with only 12 units.
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10 defeats in the last 12 matches…
Too fragile defensively, betrayed by individual errors and too uninspired around the opposing surface (worst attack in the championship with 11 goals scored since the start of the season), the oldest club thus confirms its difficulties in this 2024-2025 financial year. With 4 victories and 11 defeats in 15 days, the Normandy team is today in the depths of the ranking despite 3 lengths ahead of the MHSC, dead last. A worrying sporting situation, although ultimately quite understandable given the financial room for maneuver of Ciel et Marine. However, the balance sheet of the residents of Stade Océane is not reassuring and a certain impatience is starting to show.
An anger that the Le Havre supporters did not fail to demonstrate this Sunday, during the new slap received against the RCSA. After the bronca heard at the break, the replaced players were accompanied by boos while Didier Digard was whistled by part of the Le Havre enclosure. Worse still, “olé” accompanied the Strasbourg passes at the end of the match, before the third Alsatian goal was applauded by the residents of the Océane stadium. Before that, the kop – emptied of some of its protagonists – had also expressed its rage. “Everything is ruined, everything is ruined” ; “wet your swimsuit or get out of it” or even “Digard resignation”notably descended from the spans.
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The fans are angry
“It's very difficult, because the players surely produced their best at home. The score is very large and we will never be able to explain it if we only look at the stats”confided Digard, disappointed, after the meeting. However, the observation is clear and the figures speak for themselves. Note, in this regard, that the HAC has just conceded its fifth defeat at home by at least three goals. Enough to provoke the ire of the supporters. In recent weeks, several of them had already not hesitated to show their frustration, by whistling the name of Luka Elsner's successor on the Normandy bench. Since then, a “#DigardOut” has also emerged on X. Asked about his future and a possible resignation, the former OGC Nice coach, for his part, kept a generally optimistic speech, calling for sacred union in these difficult times.
“That question didn’t cross my mind. I don't see players who have given up. Afterwards, I prefer it to be me who takes it than them. Did they take it too? Yes and it's a shame. The fans were tough on us. If this is their way of calming their frustration, we'll deal with it. But the goal is unity and not shooting each other.”. Comments similar to those made by André Ayew: “I understand that the supporters, the city, the leaders, everyone is a little angry. We need points. But we're still in it. We all want the HAC to still be in L1 at the end, and I am convinced that we will be there”. A unity also perceptible in the intentions of the Le Havre management.
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Didier Digard not threatened
According to our latest information and despite the current results crisis, Didier Digard is absolutely not in danger. Fully supported by his board – which relies on continuity in this fight for maintenance – the 38-year-old Frenchman is not called into question and “won’t move no matter what”. Welcome confidence as Le Havre will try to raise its head next Saturday in Saint-Brieuc, during the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. After that, the Ciel et Marine will travel to Marseille (January 5) before welcoming RC Lens (January 12) and traveling to Reims (January 19). A copious program, but already decisive for the survival of the port city club.
Pub. the 16/12/2024 16:01
– UPDATE 16/12/2024 16:05
