“We are not living up to our expectations. »
Eirik Horneland’s observation after the defeat at Red Star (2-1) resonates like an admission of helplessness. Seven goals conceded in two games, a defense that is failing. How could ASSE, so solid in September, sink so quickly? The answer lies in one name: Chico Lamba.
The invisible pillar that ASSE is sorely missing
Since the 22-year-old Portuguese defender was injured in early October against Montpellier, everything has collapsed. The figures are edifying: with Lamba, ASSE concedes 1.25 goals per match. Without him? 2.25. Almost double. This isn’t just a statistical coincidence, it’s the difference between a strong team and a sinking team.
Arriving discreetly this summer from Arouca for 6 million euros, Lamba had become Horneland’s all-risk insurance. International Portuguese Hopes, he brought calm, reading the game and anticipation. Rare qualities for a 22-year-old player. “ Chico is one of the best of his generation. He has a winning mentality,” recognized the Norwegian coach.
The missing pillar. Chico Lamba, absent since the beginning of October, is the centerpiece who ensured the defensive solidity of the Greens. His return cannot be delayed any longer.
Pubalgia that destabilizes everything
Operated during the international break, Lamba was expected to miss between five and seven weeks. His absence revealed the team’s dependence on him. Joao Ferreira, his replacement, failed against Red Star with two crucial errors in the first half hour. Not for lack of will, but for lack of experience. The cover is blown, the middle is exposed, the entire tactical structure crumbles.
Horneland is not weakened by pressure or criticism. He is weakened because he lacks his defensive centerpiece. Without Lamba, his system loses all its coherence. The full-backs find themselves exposed, the team becomes porous. It’s not a coaching problem, it’s an addiction problem.
The return that changes everything
Good news: Lamba should gradually return to training in November. A return in December is possible. And then everything could change. The defense would regain its stability, Ferreira would no longer be left to his own devices, Horneland would regain his certainties.
The secret of Saint-Etienne’s season perhaps does not lie in sophisticated tactics, but in this young Portuguese who, when he plays, transforms a fragile team into a fortress. Horneland has finally found him, his savior. All that remains is to wait for his return.
