If the goal, by going to Strasbourg on Wednesday, was to keep his clean sheet, he is missed, and not just a little. The five goals conceded at La Meinau (5-2) recalled the porosity of the Girondins de Bordeaux, only the L1 formation not to have finished a match without conceding a goal.

Faced with a vengeful Lyon, it is difficult not to fear a continuation of the series on Sunday. On the other hand, the achievements of the head of Hwang Ui-Jo (5 goals in 11 games) and Alberth Elis (4 goals in 8 games) in Alsace, bringing to 24 the number of goals scored (13 different goal scorers) this season, prove that the mayonnaise continues to take in front, despite the very mediocre results (2 victories in 16 days).

“A balance to be found”

“We have this particularity of playing very offensive, analyzing the former international scorer Philippe Fargeon. Bad for the show but on the other hand, we forget that there is a defensive base to have, an osmosis, a balance to be found” .

Since the start of the season, coach Vladimir Petkovic has tested various animations, whether with three, four or five defenders, by choice or by constraints linked to injuries or to the opponent’s profiles, with one or two sentries, two or three points. Without success for the time being. “For me, there are above all a lot of errors and shortcomings of defenders, notes François Grenet, former defender and consultant. We can not hope for anything by taking more than two goals on average per game. Offensively, the work seems to be paying off, but defensively, the work undertaken is not enough “.

A defense to attract

“Either the message does not get through or the players do not manage to condition themselves over the entire duration of a match in a defender posture in terms of state of mind and mentality, points again Grenet, training side, titled in 1999 under the navy and white jersey. Today, when the full-backs enter the field, they think more about going beyond function than about function. Defender, he’s a dog. The fundamentals – rigor, determination, concentration -, you cannot neglect them or override them otherwise you will get punished. “

Therefore, is there a solution to the current Girondin disease? “When attackers are in a crisis of confidence, we do the ‘specific attacker’. Why not take on a ‘specific defender’?” Suggests Grenet.