ASSE: Pétrot does not want to “play the derby before the derby”

Léo Pétrot, defender of Saint-Etienne (@ASSE)

A native of Firminy, Léo Pétrot knows what a derby between OL and ASSE represents. However, the central defender does not want emotions to take over too much.

at theOLthere are four of them who have already played a derby with their training club. In Saint-Étienne, there are five players trained in Forez, but not all of them have played this regional duel among professionals. Leo Petrot has already crossed paths with OL in 2021-2022, but under the colors of Lorient and not those of the Greens. The derby this Sunday evening (8:45 p.m.) will therefore be the first for the central defender.

However, he knows very well what this match represents, he, the native of Firminy, and thus nourished by the derby. “The derby is a special match. When you go back to Ligue 1, you quickly mark the match on the calendar. We are focused on this meeting, there is a lot of desire. It’s an exciting match, we can’t wait. When you wear the Saint-Etienne jersey, you know that it’s not a match like any other. We’re going to go there with a lot of motivation, we have to honor the jersey and give everything.”

“We won’t have to do anything either”

On paper, the match seems to OL’s advantage, but a derby remains a derby and the Stéphanois intend to bravely play their luck at Décines. Winners of Strasbourg last weekend, the Greens arrived in the Rhône with increased confidence and all the passion of a people who will not be able to make the trip. Leo Petrot “regrets it, but will keep all their motivation inside” to try to have a big match.

This meeting on the 11th day is inevitably expected by everyone, but Léo Pétrot nevertheless calls for caution. The excitement must not make us forget the objective with three points to be achieved. “It’s a meeting where we will have to remain relaxed. It’s an important meeting, but it remains a football match. We must not play the match before the match. We must not do anything at all, no more. We have to stay structured, because there is a great team in front of us.”