Christophe Pélissier, FC Lorient coach.

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Pascal Guyot / AFP

Eighteen days without competition.

For FC Lorient footballers, the recovery promises to be tough this Wednesday evening with the reception of Dijon in a late match of the 20th day of Ligue 1. Decimated by the Covid-19 epidemic with no less than 13 positive cases in its workforce, the Breton club saw its last two games postponed against Dijon (January 17) and Nîmes (January 24).

Faced with 18th in the standings, the red lantern will be able to count this Wednesday on the return of some of its players.

But FC Lorient still deplores five absentees for injuries or suspension and two players are still "sick", according to coach Christophe Pélissier.

"Everyone already sees us in Ligue 2"

The latter also wonders about the state of form of his players affected by the virus who only resumed training on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, sometimes thanks to a derogation from the LFP protocol.

“For me, we put the health and safety of players at risk.

In what state will they be tomorrow?

I hope athletically they will be their best.

I know that mentally, they will be there, ”said Christophe Pélissier on Tuesday at a press conference.

"There is the spirit and the letter," he regretted, recalling that Saint-Etienne, whose very small group was atomized 5-0 by Lyon on Sunday, had also paid the price for this strict application of the protocol.

The situation is all the more delicate for Lorient as the match against Dijon is essential for the maintenance.

"It is almost the future in Ligue 1 of the club that is played out in this match", admitted the coach, while assuring that the situation would "not be an excuse".

“Everyone is burying us, everyone is already seeing us in Ligue 2… It's up to us to do the feat in the second half of the season.

We don't have the right to let go, ”he explained.

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  • Coronavirus

  • Soccer

  • FC Lorient

  • League 1

  • Covid 19

  • Sport