AS Cannes are one of the few clubs laboring in the lower division of French football that can boast substantial name recognition. A true Ligue 1 legend, the team helped launch the careers of French superstars Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira, as well as players like Bernard Casoni, Jonathan Zebina, and Sebastien Frey before falling from grace and, recently, out of the professional ranks entirely. As has been well documented on this site, Cannes faced a real threat of bankruptcy last year but achieved survival in the CFA, albeit one that’s hamstrung by financial restrictions.
Despite government-mandated wage limits, however, the club are off to a solid start and currently sit fourth in the CFA’s Group C, just ahead of Grenoble and only three points off the pace set by Monaco’s B squad. They’re led in scoring by Malek Chergui, a 25-year-old French-Moroccan striker who arrived over the summer from AS Valence and has proved a great signing, scoring seven goals in just 11 matches through the first half of the season. Chergui spent a brief period early in his career as part of ASSE’s youth setup, and will no doubt be hoping to open his 2014 account against his former club. Not content to rest on their clever transfer laurels, however, Cannes have spent the holidays frantically signing players including three midfielders in the past week alone, among them fan favorite Anthony Lopez Peralta who makes his return to the club after a stint with Paris’ Red Star FC.
As the new arrivals look to bed in against Saint-Étienne, they’ll have the unusual benefit of a stadium that’s completely behind them, as it’s been confirmed by the French Ministry of the Interior that ASSE fans will not be allowed to travel to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin for the match. The government was already irritated with ASSE supporters for what they describe as repeated instances of violence, but after the prematch madness in Nice a few weeks ago, it’s been decided that a travel ban is necessary for the safety of all in attendance, particularly given the short distance between Nice and Cannes and the fear of another confrontation there, albeit one entirely incidental to the match being played.
For their part, ASSE headed into the break fifth in the Ligue 1 table, having closed 2013 by outscoring opponents eight to zero in their last four wins. Admittedly mixed in with those clean sheets was a dreadful 1-3 thrashing by Rennes and an extra time departure from the Coupe de la Ligue at the hands of PSG, but the fact remains that Christophe Galtier’s squad seem to have sorted out both defending and how to score without Brandao on the pitch, two achievements which combine to put them in a good position as they enter 2014. While the trip to Cannes will be a challenge, particularly with the whole ground against them, the Coupe de France is a clear priority for ASSE and, with their Europa League adventure over without even making the group stages, and their chance to defend their League Cup title gone, Les Verts will be determined to stick around a bit longer in this competition.