A Saint-Etienne team transformed this Saturday evening. With Eirik Horneland on the bench, the Greens put in a complete performance, both defensively and up front. Because although his lungs were amputated, the ASSE players won three goals to one against Reims. Eirik Horneland spoke at a press conference.
A “fantastic” match to discover Ligue 1
Eirik Horneland, new ASSE coach: “I didn't necessarily really know what to expect from the first match. We mainly worked on our sessions, we worked on attitude, we worked on habits to adopt. The goal being to try to create positive moments. It's fantastic. It was really beautiful. I was very happy to be able to admire and see this team spirit. This is something that is very important for me, which is very important for Saint-Étienne. Then, it's very positive to watch the players express themselves on the pitch and on a technical level.”
“We are coming back from a difficult period, with four defeats in a row. We struggled a little in the first half. I think it's admirable. We tried to adjust at the tactical level. The players have They showed the attitude we expected. I'm happy to see him come back after such a series (…) We didn't have enough control in the midfield in the first half. manage to regain control When they ran to score, a magnificent. moment, full of courage, with a lot of team spirit.”
Discovery of the Horneland style
Eirik Horneland: “I think the style of play is extremely important. I was happy to see the players feeling relaxed on the pitch at the same time. At the same time, they worked hard. They created a lot of situations to challenge the opponent , 1 against 1, 2 against 1, 3 against 2. We created a lot of positive situations during this match. We could see that it allowed them to develop confidence. I think that’s what the team needs, to develop that confidence.”
The recipe for staying in Ligue 1
Eirik Horneland: “It's really a story of conviction, of giving them the feeling that they are capable, that they have this possibility of scoring. You have to be patient, not wait for everything to happen in the first five minutes. is a question of patience, discipline. Also making adjustments to have a very connected team.
