ASSE: The mistake that sends Saint

On Saturday night, AS Saint-Etienne secured an important 2-1 victory against Dunkerque. Ranked second in Ligue 2, the Verts take another step towards promotion. A return to the elite is looming according to L’Equipe.

The impact of Philippe Montanier feels like a Formula 1 boost for AS Saint-Etienne. Since the coach’s appointment in early February, the Verts have not lost any of their 9 matches and have won 7. The latest success came on Saturday night against Dunkerque (2-1). This victory allows ASSE to consolidate their second place and take a 3-point lead over their closest pursuer Le Mans. With 4 matches remaining, the gap is quite significant. Perhaps too much for L’Equipe, which is already predicting ASSE’s return to Ligue 1.

Context: AS Saint-Etienne secured a crucial victory and is in a strong position for promotion in Ligue 2.

Fact Check: Philippe Montanier’s impact has been significant, with the team not losing any matches since his appointment.

L’Equipe’s Enthusiasm, Montanier’s Delight

As noted by several supporters, including the popular account “La Mise au Vert,” the sports daily is already discussing promotion on its website.
“In Ligue 1, the Verts have unparalleled offensive weapons,” is how they described the team’s performance in their match report. Whether it was a slip-up or excessive optimism, the statement drew a smile. However, Philippe Montanier does not share this view. He admitted on beIN Sports that he doesn’t look at the standings before matches. Nevertheless, he did concede that Saturday’s match was his team’s best performance since his arrival.

“The victory was very difficult because we played a very good Dunkerque team. For me, it was our best match because we faced tough opposition and still controlled the game with numerous goal opportunities, a lot of touches in the opponent’s area. I believe we had over 20 shots, at least 7 or 8 on target. But despite that, against a good team, we ended up on the edge at 2-1,” he told the Franco-Qatari channel. These strong foundations precede their upcoming matches against Bastia and Troyes at home for the top clash in Ligue 2.