SM Caen. First objective: reach 42 points
By Bernard Guyonnet
Published on
Before the international truce occurs, the Malherbe Caen Stadium managed to achieve a formidable week: success against Toulouse, without doubt the future champion, draw at Valenciennes who are fighting not to go down and victory in Le Havre against “the hereditary enemy”. On the side of Venoix, we hope that this cut in the competition will not have slowed down the ardor and the enthusiasm of the team and that the promises born at the end of winter will still hold in this beginning of spring. In any case, for Ali Abdi, back in Caen, qualifying for the World Cup with Tunisia in his pocket, no doubt, the desire will be there…
Dunkirk does not come as a victim
The prospect of hosting Dunkirk, penultimate in the standings, even after a period made “a little special” (S. Moulin) by the numerous absences, cannot and should not frighten the Caen camp. However, Stéphane Moulin does not forget to sound the alarm bell as is the custom in such circumstances.
This match should allow us to validate our maintenance. In case of victory, our direct adversaries will be far away. But the good result, you have to go get it. We will meet a team that plays its skin and is not easy to maneuver. Everyone saw them in the hole but they straightened the bar well. They are far from distant. It’s a bit of a trick game.
Indeed, the Dunkirks have hung up on the group which will send one to two teams to the National, in addition to Nancy. They are currently one point from QRM, two from Rodez, three from Grenoble and have the right to believe in a favorable destiny.
A way to find
Self-sacrifice, willpower and courage are among the recognized virtues of Northerners. That’s how they got their retention last season. This is also how they snatched the points split in the first leg thanks to a goal from Malik Tchokounté at the very end of the match in response to that (magnificent) of Mehdi Chahiri. Stéphane Moulin is therefore right to keep his players under pressure. Between the confidence that it is essential to acquire in order to dare and the excess of confidence that can inhibit or thwart, the margin is sometimes very narrow.
We have to keep our humility. We’re not going to puff out our chest now. It’s not the kind of house.
We can think that the Weeds have reached a plateau in recent weeks and that they are safe from (new) disillusionment with the Northerners, but, it is well known, prevention is better than cure…
Pick up Le Havre
In the standings, Caen is far from the top 5 as well as the threat of relegation, even if its primary objective is to hunt it definitively. Overtaking Le Havre, sixth, and winning the symbolic title of best Norman club would be a great performance given the misfortunes necessary this season. In addition, it would be a good springboard for the 2022-2023 season, where accession to Ligue 1 could be transferred provided that the current workforce is not stripped of its best elements. But we are not there yet. First of all, we will have to welcome Dunkirk with all the resistants that are due to it… And try, for the first time since the second day of the championship, to pocket two victories in a row.
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