“Telling myself that we conceded four goals gives me pimples”, Sylvain Ripoll frustrated after the heavy defeat of EA Guingamp in Clermont

The numbers are difficult to look at: 23 shots to 9, 14 crosses to 2, 10 corners to 3, 64% possession… “That sums up this afternoon a bit, it makes your head hurt. Just telling me that we conceded four goals gives me pimples,” breathes Sylvain Ripoll, the Guingamp coach.

“Very frustrating”

The nightmare began without warning, while the Guingampais seemed to have taken this match in the right direction. A poorly negotiated corner (1-0, 10′) then an express counter from a goalkeeper clearance (2-0, 15′) and the score was already 2-0 in favor of Clermontois.

Facing Red Star (3′), Annecy (4′) and Paris FC (10′), the Costarmoricans had already given in too quickly. Two defeats followed and a draw just snatched from the Annéciens (2-2). This time, it was a heavy and unexpected score that punished them, after two other runs from Diedhiou (3-0, 53′) and Diop (4-0, 56′). “It’s very, very frustrating,” admits Sylvain Ripoll.

This En Avant plays forward, tries to bring out the balloons cleanly. Picard (20′) and Labeau (16′, 37′) could have scored before halftime. Sagna scored his first goal of the season at the very end, offering a fifth assist to Sissoko (4-1, 88′). But the offensive realism of the Guingampais was not sufficient, and their defense gave in too easily.

“They were realistic, not us”

“They have five chances, they take four. They were realistic, we were not,” summarizes Lucas Maronnier. “But we are not going to deny what we want to do,” warned his coach, while the third goal came from Louiserre losing the ball in front of the penalty area. “We take responsibility for it, I am responsible for it. This is also what allows us to create imbalances.”

This quadruplet from Clermont brings to fourteen the number of goals conceded in just eight days. This makes En Avant the penultimate defense in Ligue 2. And yet, this match is an inexhaustible source of regret. “People who haven’t seen it won’t understand that we’re frustrated,” Sylvain Ripoll knows. “The match is not being decided by much,” continues Lucas Maronnier. If we come back to 2-1, everything is different.” Such is football, so curious sometimes.

The technical sheet

Arbitrator : M. Bound.

Spectators : 4 585.

Warnings. Clermont: Diallo (23′), Keita (25′), Diop (73′); Guingamp: Sidibé (25′), Lemonnier (39′), Nair (45’+2), Siwe (67′).

BUTS. Clermont: Magnin (10′), Diop (15′, 56′), Diedhiou (53′). Guingamp: Sagna (88′).

CLERMONT : Guivarc’h – Magnin, Da Silva, Mwimba, Diallo – Keita (Konaté, 90′), Ackra, Saivet (cap., Gastien, 68′) – Diop (Douane, 77′), Diedhiou (Diaby, 68′) , Baaloudj (Bassouamina, 77′). Coach: Sébastien Bichard.

Not entered into play: Borne (l.), Kena Kabeya.

GUINGAMP : Basilio – Sissoko, Naïr (Riou, 63′), Lemonnier, Maronnier (Vallier, 74′) – Ghrieb (Sagna, 70′), Sidibé, Louiserre (cap.), Picard (Guendouz, 70′) – Labeau (Luvambo , 63′), Siwe. Coach: Sylvain Ripoll.

Not entered into play: Niasse (l.), Touzghar.