RC Strasbourg has still not ensured its maintenance in Ligue 1 while the last three days are looming.
How did Thierry Laurey's team come to this when it remained over two successful seasons?
Several club followers comment on the risks of relegation of Racing which has never managed "to go to the good side".
A Sunday in Hell.
Last weekend ended badly for Strasbourg.
FC Nantes and Lorient victorious, Nîmes who won the draw and here is Racing still not assured of its maintenance in Ligue 1. Three days from the end, the Alsatian team has only four points ahead of the current one. Nantes dam operator.
What to tremble before the final sprint?
"I am worried but not devastated", relativizes Philippe Wolff, the president of the Federation of supporters of the RCS.
“Personally, I've been wondering since the match against Brest [early February], when we conceded 2-2 in the last ten minutes.
Every time we could have tipped on the right side, we missed each other.
"
“This season has been a roller coaster season,” says Claude Spreng, who regularly comments on Racing meetings on France Bleu Alsace.
“They missed their season because of the Covid and dragged it like a ball.
Then every time it was going well, there was a hollow behind it.
"
Culpable inconstancy
First example at the end of November with a series of good results against Rennes (1-1), Nantes (4-0) or Angers (2-0) until… a collapse against Bordeaux (0-2).
Then, in January, the men of Thierry Laurey again chained the victories (three) before… plunging again with two small points taken in four outings.
"This inconstancy was sometimes even found in the same match", continues the one who is also the coach of Biesheim, in National 3. "In Nîmes (1-1), the first period was very weak before an improbable equalizer and against Nantes, it was the opposite (1-2).
In the game, we also saw some great sequences and others marred by big mistakes.
"
💙 #RCSAMHSC I Your energy and your strength are an additional asset for our Strasbourg residents in this final sprint!
🗣️ Integrate the connected 𝐌𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐮 and give voice to the arrival of our players this Sunday!
🗳️ Register here:
➡️ https://t.co/4qpkxGHa6c pic.twitter.com/uyemJRlC1N
- Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) May 5, 2021
Other paradoxes within this rugged course, the Strasbourg residents were capable of unexpected performances.
Like the victory against Monaco (1-0), this draw tastes of success in Lille (1-1), or even this point brought back last week from Marseille (1-1).
“To foil the big teams, we know how to do it.
Rather, it is when we have to be proactive and use the ball well that we have trouble, ”analyzes Philippe Wolff, without being able to explain this observation too much.
"The workforce has been stable for several years, it should work but collectively, we are not there ..."
“Yes, but mentally, I feel the players are ready.
They have already had to fight to maintain themselves, they know how to do it, ”assures the former home scorer (2006-2014) David Ledy.
“You have to be optimistic, it would be really sad to come down after everything the club has been through in recent years.
"
“We mustn't hang around anymore!
"
A confidence shared by Claude Spreng.
“We should not play everything against Lorient on the last day.
Before, there is the place to take shelter Sunday against Montpellier, which does not play anything any more and will arrive lessened [without Savanier, Mollet, Pedro Mendes even Omlin].
Going to Nice afterwards is not a bad schedule either.
But we must no longer hang around!
"
Our file on Racing
Like the other interlocutors, the coach of Biesheim admits, he would never have imagined the Strasbourg people in such a situation in May.
“With this squad ... But from experience I know, when you start badly, you struggle all season.
"
Sport
FC Nantes-Bordeaux: The local buyer as a savior, myth or reality for French football?
Sport
Chelsea-Real Madrid: Is Hazard finished because he has never worked in his life in training?
League 1
Strasbourg
Sport
Soccer
RC Strasbourg