Saint-Étienne (AFP)

Winning, despite the hecatomb: with a staff decimated by injuries, Saint-Etienne must imperatively win his first win in the Europa League this season against the Belgian club of La Gantoise Thursday (18h55) to keep the hope of qualifying for the Round of 16

After a defeat against this opponent (3-2), 3rd in the championship of Belgium, in the opening of the competition, the Greens have chained three draws against the Germans of Wolfsburg (0-0) and the Ukrainians of Olexandriya (1- 1, 2-2).

Before Thursday's meeting at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, ASSE is third in group I (3 pts), tied with Olexandriya and two points behind Wolfsburg (2nd, 5 pts) that he will challenge on December 12 ... maybe for a final for qualifying.

Since the arrival of Claude Puel on the bench Etienne, October 4, the Greens remain undefeated. They post a total of ten games without defeat including two under the era of former coach Ghislain Printant. But at the same time, the workforce has shrunk with injuries.

Facing Montpellier (0-0), Sunday in Ligue 1, ASSE has done well with a youthful team but did not have enough offensive weight to win despite the percussion of Denis Bouanga, his best current striker (5 goals, 3 assists).

And Puel's substitution choices appear more and more limited.

Are returns expected for the match against La Gantoise? "I do not think so," regretted the technician in a press conference Sunday after the meeting.

- Recovery and state of mind -

"We are going to focus on recovery, when we see this kind of match (against Montpellier), the debauchery of energy, the concentration that it requires, the duels ... It's pretty huge," he said. Claude Puel.

And the day of rest granted to his group Monday was probably not superfluous.

Eleven players are currently on the flank including defenders Mathieu Debuchy, Gabriel Silva and William Saliba, midfielder Yohan Cabaye or forwards Robert Beric, Romain Hamouma or Wahbi Khazri, all able to tip a result.

Only midfielder Yann M'Vila, reinstated from a phlebitis, could make his comeback after staying the whole game on the bench, Sunday, as the Spaniard Sergi Palencia, who could replace Franck Honorat on the right flank.

"I think there are not many clubs that could match matches as we do, with young people, new ones at every meeting, and I'm looking forward to having a group with such a state of mind." stressed Puel.

"Those who do not have playing time have opportunities and seize them.It's great for the club because we need everyone," says the technician.

However, its room for maneuver has been greatly reduced and without the return of a few players, ASSE will remain on a thread until the truce, with eight games to play by then, starting with that of Thursday against La Gantoise .

© 2019 AFP