ASSE thought it would regain serenity with its recent success against Troyes, but a recent stance from Lucas Stassin’s entourage has reignited some tensions. Some of the supporters consider their pride touched after comments considered condescending. The affair quickly gained momentum, particularly on social networks, where the father of the Belgian striker was criticized for a disrespectful attitude towards the Saint-Etienne public.
The parallel with Messi does not pass
It was indeed in his intervention that Stéphane Stassin sparked anger: according to him, certain supporters would have welcomed his son as if they were expecting… Lionel Messi. A parallel which, in his words, illustrated the expectations “excessive” surrounding Lucas upon his arrival as the biggest transfer in the club’s recent history. The statement, made in a podcast, was intended to be explanatory: to recall the context, the pressure, and the difficulty for a young player to assume such a heavy status. But on the Saint-Etienne networks, the nuance has disappeared, giving way to the feeling of having been taken down.
The debate can be partly understood by the recent history of the club. ASSE, relegated last year, hopes to bounce back with a rejuvenated team where Stassin must play an important role. His first months in Forez had been complicated, marked by a long silence in front of goal, before a more successful second half of the season. The words of the player’s father, supposed to contextualize this period, were perceived by some as a questioning of their demands. Even their footballing intelligence.
A reaction which revives the debate around Stassin
For part of the public, this release comes at a bad time. The club is trying to rebuild a positive dynamic, and the players’ entourage is expected to provide measured communication. Other supporters put things into perspective, believing that the clumsy formula should not obscure the attacker’s real progress. But the unease was strong enough to reopen a gap that the club was precisely trying to close.
With a dose of irony, however, some fans tried to defuse the tension: “If Stassin brings ASSE back to Ligue 1, then yes, he will be worth Messi here”we can read on the networks. In this case, they joke, a statue at the foot of the Cauldron could even be discussed. In the meantime, the affair reminds us that in Saint-Étienne, words count as much as performances, especially when they touch on the passion of the stands.
