Blaise Matuidi: Saint-Étienne Are Quickly Improving
Highly-rated defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi is full of high hopes for the season ahead as Saint-Étienne sprung something of a shock by ousting Girondins de Bordeaux from the Coupe de France at the weekend.
Jan 5, 2009 1:18:43 PM
Fans Saint-Etienne
Related Links
Teams
Players
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
Advertisement
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
French Ligue 1
- ‘Hyper-Efficient’ Defence Key For Marseille Against Milan – Didier Deschamps
- Laurent Blanc: It’s A Treat For Bordeaux To Play Juventus
- Claude Puel Feels Olympique Lyonnais Deserved Better Against Fiorentina
- Arsenal Eye £14m Swoop For Nice Star Loic Remy - Report
- Player Ratings: Fiorentina 1-0 Olympique Lyonnais
- Milan's Attack Is The Best In Europe - Olympique de Marseille's Didier Deschamps
- Goal.com World Player Of The Week: Francesco Totti - Roma
- Claude Puel: Fiorentina Encounter Will Be Very Hard For Olympique Lyonnais
- Lyon Starlet Miralem Pjanic Aiming For Progression To Latter Stages Of Champions League
- Fiorentina Fans To Show Solidarity With Ireland Over Thierry Henry’s Handball
Advertisement
Most Read
- Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan Athletic: Jermain Defoe Scores Five In White Hart Lane Rout
- Top 10 Players Never To Win The Ballon D’Or Since 1995
- Player Ratings: Milan 4-3 Cagliari
- Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-0 Inter
- Ballon d'Or Comment: What About Me? Examining The Absentees From The Golden Ball Shortlist
Advertisement
Most Discussed
- Goal.com World Player Of The Week: Francesco Totti - Roma
39 - Milan's Attack Is The Best In Europe - Olympique de Marseille's Didier Deschamps
38 - Champions League Preview: Fiorentina – Olympique Lyonnais
30 - Fiorentina Fans To Show Solidarity With Ireland Over Thierry Henry’s Handball
26 - Arsenal Eye £14m Swoop For Nice Star Loic Remy - Report
14
Advertisement
