Will the DFCO still be in Ligue 2 at the start of the 2023-2024 season? Nothing is less sure. Penultimate in the standings, 7 points behind the first non-relegation player, the Dijonnais seem to be heading straight for relegation. Will the arrival of Pascal Dupraz be enough to rectify the situation? Response from our journalists.
Two months and nine games. This is the time remaining for Pascal Dupraz, new coach of Dijon FCO since Monday April 4, to manage to keep the Burgundian club in the second division. A titanic challenge, given the calamitous season that the Côte-d’Oriens are currently leading.
Indeed, the DFCO has an inglorious record of 16 defeats, 8 draws and only 6 wins in 30 games. “The Dupraz Electroshock” will it be enough to save the club at La Chouette? Answer tomorrow, Saturday April 8, against Rodez, a direct competitor. At the writing of France 3 Bourgogne, our journalists Nicolas Da Silva and Vincent Constant are divided on the question.
This is the first subject of debate between our two web journalists. “Pascal Dupraz is still the specialist of clubs in disarray, so I think he has the experience and the methods necessary to save the DFCO” hopes Nicolas Da Silva.
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As a reminder, the new Dijon coach had made an impression by succeeding in two badly embarked maintenance operations in L1. The first with his favorite club, Évian Thonon-Gaillard, in 2014, but especially two years later, with Toulouse FC. “Téfécé was in an even more critical situation, 10 points from the first non-relegation player (against 7 for the DFCO currently, editor’s note)”, resumes Nicolas Da Silva. “And Dupraz, who had taken over the club during the season, had been able to transcend Toulouse, with 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in 10 games. So I believe it!“
Vincent Constant does not share this optimism: “We forget that the last time Pascal Dupraz was called to play firefighters on duty was last season, with ASSE, and that it ended with a descent of the Greens in Ligue 2″. During the 2021-2022 season, Dupraz’s men had indeed failed in 18th place, synonymous with play-offs against the 3rd Ligue 2 team. Barrage finally lost to Auxerre (1-1, 4-5 on pens).
“Pascal Dupraz is more of a handyman than a builder. And in Dijon, the work is extensive: the DFCO is 19th with 7 points less than Pau, the first non-relegation. Without forgetting that this year, 17th place is also synonymous with downhill. This was not the case with the TFC, where only the bottom three were relegated. “I think the four descents will work against him” resumes our journalist.
Admittedly, the DFCO has changed coaches. And this could have an impact (or not) on the Côte-d’Oriennes troops to instill a welcome new state of mind. But if there is one thing that the Dijonnais will not be able to change, it is the calendar.
We can take advantage of the negative dynamics of Annecy, which has not won for four games, or Laval, which remains on five consecutive defeats
Nicholas DaSilva,journalist at France 3 Bourgogne
And for Nicolas Da Silva, the last 9 games are rather favorable to the DFCO. “What reassures me is that we will face several teams at the bottom of the table, like us “He notes. Indeed, Dijon receives Rodez on Saturday April 8 (13th, 8 points), then Amiens a month later (11th, 11 points).
More important, the two trips to Annecy (15th, 6 points) and Nîmes (18th, 3 points), direct competitors for maintenance. “Against these teams, mandatory victory. I think the players, helped by Dupraz, will shake themselves for these last deadlines“, continue Nicolas. “And then we can take advantage of the negative dynamics of Annecy, which has not won for four games, or Laval, which remains on five consecutive defeats“.
These poorly classified duels are far from being an advantage for Vincent Constant: “It’s a real hungry calendarhe regrets.We will face over-motivated teams who will not give up. They will all want to ensure their maintenance. We will also face Bastia and Sochaux, two formations which evolve two classes above ours and which will want to collect points to stay in the race for the climb“.
“We no longer have our destiny in our hands. Do the players still believe in it? I don’t think so. Does Pascal Dupraz still know how to save a club? It’s up to him to prove it.
Vincent Constant,journalist at France 3 Bourgogne
“The match against Sochaux remains a derby” continues Nicolas Da Silva. “In addition to the duty of maintenance, we will also want to take revenge for the sudden affront on the way (0-2 defeat, editor’s note). I think pride will play“.
The Dijon season will end on Le Havre land, the leading team in Ligue 2. A good point, for Nicolas Da Silva, for whom “Le Havre will have nothing to play for and will necessarily be takeable“. An additional difficulty for Vincent Constant: “The people of Le Havre will necessarily want to finish in style in front of their home crowd to celebrate the title. It’s bad for us.“
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Who will be the most insightful? Answer at the beginning of July, at the end of the Championship. A final prognosis for our two football experts. “There are 27 points left to take, I believe in it” hammers Nicolas Da Silva. “We no longer have our destiny in our hands. Do the players still believe in it?“, asks Vincent Constant. “I do not think so. Does Pascal Dupraz always know how to save a club? It’s up to him to prove it “.