Blaise Matuidi: Saint-Étienne Are Quickly Improving

Although Saint-Étienne’s achievement of knocking Girondins de Bordeaux out of the Coupe de France on Saturday evening was overshadowed by the successes of minnows Schirrhein and Romorantin in defeating far higher-ranked opponents, their 1-0 victory was not a result to be sniffed at.

Head coach Alain Perrin had admitted before the match that he was concerned about the fixture. And no wonder! Missing ten first team players due to injury and another two due to suspension, teenage striker Emmanuel Rivière was deployed as an emergency right-back on his top team bow. In addition, Blaise Matuidi, a defensive midfielder, had to be drafted into a centre-back role.

Courted by Arsenal, Matuidi was unfazed and helped his side to a shock 1-0 victory, which came courtesy of a goal from Bafetimbi Gomis. After a tough start to Sainté’s season in which les Verts dipped into the relegation zone, the French under-21 international now believes the club can move quickly forward.

“After having reached rock bottom not all that long ago, we have been able to turn things around,” he said, reports the LFP’s official website. “We're getting better and better, and there is more still to come.”

Perrin was also in upbeat mood after the match, which showcased the Loire club’s impressive strength-in-depth. “It's a very positive result for the boys, who battled for every ball and were rewarded for their solidarity,” he positively stated. “You have to dig in, but the spirit of the cup is about going out there to get a result. It's a major achievement, because coming to Bordeaux with the injuries we've got and the defence we had in place is perilous.”

Perrin is currently chasing a third successive Coupe de France, however, luck has been cruel to Sainté as they have been draw away to third-ranked Stade Rennais in the last 32. At least Perrin should have something resembling a first team squad to select for that match in three weeks time.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com