Three goals conceded in Montpellier (3-2), three others against Toulouse (0-3) last Sunday at home and a zero point after two days of the championship: Estac lost the foundation that had helped keep it in the league. elite last season.
The 5-4-1 system advocated by coach Bruno Irles remains unchanged but the departures of Issa Kaboré (Marseille) and Giulian Biancone (Nottingham Forest) have not yet been digested.
The Dane Andreas Bruus quickly found his marks as a right piston, illustrating himself above all by his quality of passing in the opposing zone. But he is injured in a knee and will therefore be absent on Friday.
Too fast in the deep end
For Jackson Porozo, right axial defender, the beginnings are laborious. The Ecuadorian international, who arrived this summer and with whom the Trojan club had reached an agreement in principle in the spring, was involved in the first two Toulouse goals on Sunday.
However, in training, the former Boavista player (Portuguese D1) impresses. Not only by its size (1.92 m). “I don’t know if anyone in Ligue 1 is able to put more impact in duels than him”, praises his coach Bruno Irles, who regrets having had to throw him “into the deep end” of the League 1 early, due to a lack of competition.
“Normally, in an ideal world, I should have brought Jackson (Porozo) and Andreas (Bruus) gradually, as we do for young people. Suddenly, we saw certain shortcomings which passed in Portugal and in Denmark which do not pass in Ligue 1. It is the situation which wants that. »
After these two laborious matches, Troyes only saw the dark side of the Ecuadorian, bought 3.5 million euros by the City Group. “There is also the language barrier which hinders communication in matches”, adds the Trojan goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon who regrets these “avoidable goals” conceded at Mosson then at the Stade de l’Aube.
Shortage in axis
The preparation matches had already brought to light these failing defense settings. Estac had conceded six goals against Toulouse, four against Metz and as many against Nancy! The start of the Ligue 1 championship is a continuation of these worrying friendly matches.
In Lyon on Friday, the Trojan coach should however renew the Ecuadorian in the axis, his choices proving to be limited. Adil Rami, whose recovery was late, is in poor shape. And Andreas Bruus, absent “three to four weeks”, will be replaced by Thierno Baldé, 20 years old.
The latter, a former Parisian loaned to Le Havre last season, has proven to be one of the most prominent full-backs in Ligue 2. But he too only benefits from a very short adaptation time. It remains to be hoped that, in this great bath that is Ligue 1, the Parisian titi will do better than the Ecuadorian, who will have to learn quickly so as not to sink.