Dijon (AFP)

Four games, four defeats, zero points: for the red lantern Dijon, it is already urgent, when receiving Nîmes to finally take off Saturday at the stadium Gaston-Gérard (20H00) during a fifth day of Ligue 1 where a quick adaptation of the latest DFCO recruits will be required.

"It may be a pivotal moment of the season," admits coach Stéphane Jobard, referring to the idea of ​​"starting a new start".

"Of course the players are aware of the importance of this match, we too, we want it to be a unifying moment to start our season," says the 48-year-old technician, who succeeded Antoine Kombouaré, came to the rescue in January to replace Olivier Dall'Oglio, and who did not wish to continue his mission.

- disturbing statistics -

The statistics of the last ten seasons do not plead in favor of a continuation in the Ligue 1 of the Dijon club, already miraculously saved from the relegation to playoff against Lens in the spring (1-1, 3-1).

Over the last three championships, Guingamp (2018-2019), Metz (2017-2018) and Lorient (2016-2017) have come down in Ligue 2 after taking no points on the first four days (or even on the first five ).

Just like Arles-Avignon (2010-2011) and Grenoble (2009-2010), who had waited respectively for the ninth and the thirteenth game of the season to take off.

This type of catastrophic start is however not prohibitive: in 2012-2013, Sochaux had won for the first time on the fifth day, to finish in the end in 15th place.

But still it should score goals and cash much less: only Julio Tavares, absent against Nimes Saturday, scored for the DFCO - on a penalty against Saint-Etienne (2-1 defeat) - while the defense Bourguignonne conceded seven goals - only Monaco did worse (10 goals).

Last season, Dijon finished with the 17th attack and penultimate defense of the championship.

The squad has certainly been renewed but the bulk of recruits arrived in the final hours of the transfer window, while the best strikers, Naïm Sliti (Toulouse) and Wesley Saïd (Ettifaq / KSA), are gone.

- Bets on recruits -

And with the departure of some internationals with their selection for ten days, Jobard has only been able to work with his group since Thursday. "Players have just discovered our recruits," he says, even if, according to him, "the international truce did good because it allowed to get out of this negative spiral by cutting with the competition".

Most of the newcomers are bets as the Dijon club has already made several in the past, sometimes with success, in the hope of improving its offensive potential.

In attack, Venezuelan Jhonder Cadiz was loaned by Benfica, Brazilian playmaker Matheus Pereira and Englishman Mavididi Stephy by Juventus.

Mounir Chouiar was acquired in an exchange with Jules Keita with RC Lens (L2), as Mama Baldé, arrived from Sporting Portugal where defender Valentin Rosier left.

"If we made them come to produce the game, it's the DNA of the club," says Jobard. Defensively, Dijon relies on Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City) and in the middle the club has bet on Didier Ndong (Guingamp).

A new face Jobard hopes "an added value" from the meeting against Nimes. Because time is running out, already.

© 2019 AFP