After the defeat against Red Star (2-1) on Saturday at the Bauer stadium, ASSE is going through a deep crisis that the figures and results only partly explain. It was Florian Tardieu who ignited the powder with a seemingly diplomatic declaration but loaded with innuendo: “The teams are working on us. They have videos. It’s certain that on reversals, given what the coach asks, it can be our weakness. These are the instructions, so we listen to them. »
These words, spoken by the unofficial Saint-Étienne captain, paint a clear portrait of the unease reigning in Saint-Étienne. Behind the facade of politeness, it is a barely veiled disavowal of Eirik Horneland’s system that shines through. The locker room no longer adheres to the tactical rigidity imposed by the Norwegian coach, and in particular to this system of rapid reversals which exposes the Greens’ full-backs.
Tardieu’s sentence which rocked ASSE
The problem is not new, but it is growing. For several days, the adversaries have deciphered the Saint-Etienne plan. Le Mans, Annecy, and now Red Star: all mercilessly exploit these corridors, becoming a “highway” for attackers. Tardieu himself admits: “We run a lot in the void. »
This mental and physical fatigue in the face of instructions deemed unsuitable reveals a progressive, more visible rupture between technician and players. When an executive like Tardieu, usually discreet and professional, publicly criticizes tactical choices, it is because the situation has gone beyond the stage of simple adjustments.
At the heart of the turmoil, Ivan Gazidis, the general director, must decide. The locker room is crumbling, the results are collapsing. The future of Horneland is in his hands.
Ivan Gazidis in crisis mode
Aware of the tension, management called a crisis meeting with Ivan Gazidis, the general director. The objective? Evaluate whether Horneland still has his locker room and whether the project can continue. Red Star, winner on Saturday, moved to second with 26 points, while ASSE stagnated in third place with only 23 points.
Worse still: with the largest squad in Ligue 2 (massive investments from Kilmer Sports Ventures), the Greens only deliver an up-and-down performance. 6-0 victory against Pau, 4-0 defeat in Annecy, then 2-1 loss against Red Star. A destabilizing pattern which questions not only the abilities of the coach, but also his credibility with the group.
Troyes, last joker for Horneland
On Saturday November 8, ASSE goes to Troyes to face the leader. This match promises to be decisive: a defeat could signal the time of reckoning. Gazidis and Tanenbaum (owner of the Kilmer fund) will not be patient indefinitely. The investments made this summer demand results that match the ambitions.
In the meantime, unease dominates in Saint-Étienne. The break between Horneland and his locker room, crystallized by Tardieu’s declarations, could indeed mark a turning point for the Saint-Etienne project at the end of 2025.
