Strasbourg (AFP)

After his disastrous start in Ligue 1, Strasbourg, which receives the Dijon red co-lantern on Sunday (3 p.m.), is already "under an obligation to win" so as not to sink.

"It is difficult to find a spirit of competition", commented to AFP the coach of Strasbourg Thierry Laurey to explain the start of the season of his men: zero points in three matches, 7 goals conceded including three penalties and gifts in spades.

February 29-August 23: 175 days without the adrenaline of an official match, we have to believe that Strasbourg is struggling to recover more than others, not to mention the 10 cases of Covid-19 which clearly heckled the preparation in the middle of August.

"The Covid was like a second confinement. I have the impression that it impacted everyone. We did not work in fact, and today we did not find this feeling that we had last season "despite an almost unchanged workforce, the technician told AFP.

"We tinkered with, corroborates striker Ludovic Ajorque. I challenge any team to prepare as we have done and make a good start to the championship," he told AFP.

Physically, no one goes the distance in a match, efficiency is at half mast and everything lacks intensity.

"Bad races", "bad trips", the game, rather oiled before the health crisis, got lost during confinement.

"We may not have measured the real scope of this virus", concedes Thierry Laurey.

With almost six months without competition, "I had the impression of no longer being a footballer", does not hide Ludovic Ajorque, decisive passer for the promoted Lorient (3-1) at the opening of the championship for the only Alsatian goal after three days .

- Blunders -

"In Lorient, I was happy to see a stadium again, from the public, I was like a kid discovering the profession", adds the Alsatian top scorer of the last financial year with Adrien Thomasson (8 goals each in the Championship).

In Morbihan but also against Nice (2-0) in Meinau, the Alsatians especially shone by their + generosity + by multiplying the blunders.

With each goal conceded, the spring gave way without the opponents having to force their talent.

"You have to find a competitive spirit and that is the hardest part. It is not because you are led that you have to take a blow in the back of the head. On the contrary, it must give you some pep to equalize behind. we need a psychological click ", evokes Thierry Laurey.

In Saint-Etienne (2-0 defeat), it was a generous penalty awarded to the Greens shortly before the hour mark that plagued the evening.

Is Laurey worried?

"You have to be a little more tolerant at first, he replies. After that, there will always be time to make decisions and see things in a more pragmatic way."

- "Go to coal" -

For the moment, the RCSA technician is working to keep his men in the game.

The Covid episode has passed, the physical condition of the workforce is improving significantly.

The most important according to him: "That the players keep confidence".

Could a reinforcement arrive before October 5?

"Normally, yes, things are going well," said the coach, who has been calling for a defensive midfielder for six months, "a player capable of playing in front of the defense who will secure us both on the defensive and offensive aspect."

Against Dijon, co-lantern red, the RCSA is "in the obligation to win" according to Thierry Laurey.

Because the following opponents are of a big caliber: Monaco on the Rock, then Lille and Lyon at the Meinau.

"We must go to coal and win against Dijon, We have not lost our football, all the same," concludes Ludovic Ajorque.

Reason to remain optimistic for Racing: last season, he had already had a difficult start to the season, which did not prevent him from finishing 10th.

© 2020 AFP