Saint-Étienne (AFP)

"Kolo", act II: back to the Greens after a visit to Mexico, Timothée Kolodziejczak comes at the right time to strengthen - as early as Wednesday in Lille (19H00) - the defense of Saint-Etienne, decimated by injuries.

"I'm ready to play even if I'm not 100. I came to operate in the axis but also play on the left in case of problems," said the player, 27 years old.

It's good, it is precisely the left side of the Etienne defense that is diminished.

Peruvian Miguel Trauco, who won the first two meetings in Dijon (2-1 win) and Brest (1-1), suffered a muscle problem in one thigh while Brazilian Gabriel Silva recovered from a broken heel. Achilles right.

Loaned by the Mexican club Tigres de Monterrey, "Kolo", who has returned to training with balloon than ten days ago, will be a priori positioned left back against Lille.

His return to the Greens was highly anticipated, by the interested party first, but also by the fans after a final season where, already lent, the defender was unanimous.

The supporters, always very present around Saint-Etienne, "sent him messages of support on the social networks". "I could see they were waiting for my arrival, it made me happy," he said.

"We have just had a big season, we are playing Europe and the group is a real bunch of friends, and despite the departure of Rémy (Cabella), the hard core has remained. was in Mexico, for them it's like I've never left, "he said.

"The fact that it's a new loan does not bother me, the two clubs have reached an agreement like that, I knew I was going back, it would be long, I was mentally prepared, I was patient but I I knew I would be residing in Saint-Etienne, I wanted to find a balance and continue the adventure, to do a second or third season at the same level, "says" Kolo ".

- Saint-Etienne in the skin -

"The ambition is to do even better (4th in 2019) .It will be difficult but we have the team for," said the defender, trained in Lens before passing through Lyon, Nice or Sevilla FC, team with which he won twice the Europa League that the Greens will find in September after two years of absence.

He also made a brief stint in Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga (2 matches) and then in the Tigres (8 matches) for two disappointing experiences before bouncing back with the Greens (38 games, 3 goals).

The coach Ghislain Printant is the first to enjoy the return of his defender, become one of the executives of the locker room and who now has Saint-Etienne in the skin.

Accustomed to having a reference to each club where he played, Kolodziejczak now sports a miner's lamp and two peaks on his left biceps to express his attachment to the Forez, where coal mines are an essential part of local history. .

"He was one of the boys who performed well last season, and for me it was someone who had to stay with us, both for his defensive qualities and his human qualities," said Printant.

"He likes to take his responsibilities, having him here was very important and I'm happy to have him at my disposal, he's a real competitor," the technician concludes.

© 2019 AFP