At a press conference this Saturday noon, Laurent Huard returned to the elimination of ASSE last year against Nîmes during his previous interim at the head of the team.
Disappointed and stung after the elimination of the Greens in the eighth round of the Coupe de France 2023/2024 (0-1), Laurent Huard returned a year later to this interim at the head of the Greens between the mandate of Batlles and that of Dall'Oglio. The one who will experience the same situation against Marseille this Sunday, wanted to provide details on the club's choices at the time, in particular with a very rejuvenated team for the reception of the Crocodiles: “Against Marseille tomorrow, the context will be different from that of Nîmes last season. We were clearly in something else, the focus was not on Nîmes but on the following match in the league against Bordeaux (0- 0). With hindsight, this match undoubtedly started something for coach Dall'Oglio, to the detriment of this famous Coupe de France match against Nîmes. However, all the players who played in this match gave their all. maximum, the context was really different. It was a choice by the club to best prepare Bordeaux and I accepted this choice. There were important things at stake for AS Saint-Étienne.
As a reminder, a year ago at a press conference after the elimination against Nîmes Olympique, Laurent Loon had spoken about choices made and agreed with management regarding its initial composition. An eleven which made many observers say that the Greens had given up on the Coupe de France. Annoyed by the questions from the press in this regard, Huard considered certain questions disrespectful for the work carried out and for the players on the field: “For your part, you have the right to have an opinion and a reflection on the match but there are things that we only know when we are inside the club. The starting line-up is assumed and concerted choices. The players do not start a match to lose, they all want to play and win matches. We are competitive when we enter the field, we try to do our best.
Last match of the year before the break, the match against Marseille should offer a more traditional starting line-up. Note, however, that Brice Maubleu will make his first in the Saint-Etienne jersey, Loon confirming his presence in goal against Marseille: “We can't lie to you, Brice will start the match tomorrow, it was clear and planned for a long time. There were discussions and sporting reflection with Brice and Gautier as well as the sports management in order to validate the fact that Brice starts tomorrow.”
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