logo
Auxerre continue impressive unbeaten run against France's elite

Auxerre continue impressive unbeaten run against France's elite

Yahoo15-03-2025
AJ Auxerre have been punching above their weight in Ligue 1 this season. Having been promoted from Ligue 2 last season, Christophe Pélissier's side have not been included in the relegation conversation all season, against expectations. Not only that, there is a slim chance of some form of European football coming to the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps next season. Otherwise, a mid-table finish exceeds expectations for L'AJA.
Auxerre have been particularly strong against Ligue 1's elite. Against the current top three (Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique de Marseille, and OGC Nice), they are unbeaten. Pélissier's side have beaten Marseille home and away by an aggregate score of 6-1, beat Nice at home and then drew away, at the Allianz Riviera, on Friday night thanks to Florian Ayé's 94th-minute equaliser (1-1). Auxerre also held PSG to a draw but will have to face them again before the end of the campaign.
'11 points out of 15 (against the top three) is not bad but, unfortunately for us, there are other matches,' joked Pélissier in a post-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News.
Auxerre's defensive solidity and ability to hit in transition has been key to their success. Guile and audacity were key ingredients against Nice as they went for broke in the second half. 'I decided to change because I that we didn't make them struggle at the start. We went from a 4-4-2 to basically a 4-2-4 because there were just forwards up front,' said Pélissier, referencing the raft of changes made in the 76th minute. It was a change that allowed Auxerre to keep up their unbeaten run against Ligue 1's top three and enhance their 'giant-killer' reputation this season.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tottenham Hotspur Are Among The Clubs Hoping To Land This Ligue 1 Forward: Should Frank Move In For Him?
Tottenham Hotspur Are Among The Clubs Hoping To Land This Ligue 1 Forward: Should Frank Move In For Him?

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Tottenham Hotspur Are Among The Clubs Hoping To Land This Ligue 1 Forward: Should Frank Move In For Him?

In a recent report, RMC Sport stated that Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs hoping to land Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo. However, it is believed that Spurs would have to rival Nottingham Forest, Red Bull Leipzig and Villarreal in the race to land the French striker this summer. Kalimuendo's Impressive Numbers In Ligue 1 Last Season The 23-year-old had a decent campaign at the French club as he put in a run of productive performances for them in Ligue 1. Kalimuendo found the back of the net 18 times and earned four assists in 34 matches for his current employers last season in multiple competitions. The French sensation deserves a ton of credit for averaging 2.37 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. He kept 42.6% of his attempts on target. Kalimuendo was even accurate when distributing possession in the opponent's half after completing 78.8% of his attempted passes in the French top tier (stats via His current deal at the French club will run out in the summer of 2027. Thus, it would be tough for Spurs to get a deal done for Kalimuendo on the cheap this off-season. BORDEAUX, FRANCE – AUGUST 02: Arnaud Kalimuendo #9 of Team France looks on prior to the Men's Quarterfinal match between France and Argentina during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on August 02, 2024 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Juan Manuel) Should Tottenham Hotspur Boss Thomas Frank Move In For Kalimuendo? Kalimuendo excels at finding a yard of space for himself to get some strikes in on target. He has proven his worth as a good finisher in the final third and has got the vision to create a few promising chances for others around him up top. The French talent is also quite clever with his movements in and around the opponent's penalty area. However, he might struggle to cope with the physicality and high intensity of the Premier League if Spurs manage to bring him on board in this transfer period. We can expect Kalimuendo to bring more firepower to Tottenham boss Thomas Frank's attack. He has what it takes to compete with Dominic Solanke for a regular first-team spot at the North London club next season. At 23, the best is yet to come from Kalimuendo. Thus, Spurs would do well to lure him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer. He might even help the London giants compete across all fronts in the coming years. All in all, Frank should focus on moving in for Kalimuendo ahead of the new campaign.

Soccer players' union hits back at 'autocratic' FIFA and Infantino in fallout from Club World Cup

timean hour ago

Soccer players' union hits back at 'autocratic' FIFA and Infantino in fallout from Club World Cup

The global soccer players' union hit back at FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino on Friday, saying their autocratic style of leadership was harming the rights of its members. 'Football needs responsible leadership, not emperors,' the FIFPRO network said after a meeting of 58 national player unions responded to FIFA pursuing its agenda with unofficial player representatives. 'It needs fewer autocratic monologues and more genuine, inclusive and transparent dialogue,' the union added. FIFA announced two weeks ago it reached a consensus on key issues after Infantino hosted a group of mostly non-recognized officials in New York ahead of the Club World Cup final. The latest rift between soccer's governing body and its players' unions flared while the European Commission in Brussels is considering a formal complaint against FIFA. It was filed by FIFPRO's European division and national leagues in Europe against FIFA's style of governance and decision-making. FIFPRO said FIFA's core agenda included an overloaded global match calendar with too many games for elite players, lack of physical and mental recovery periods and extreme playing conditions. Players at the month-long Club World Cup in the United States reported feeling dizzy and unwell in the heat of daytime games played to appeal to worldwide TV audiences. The 63-game tournament backed by Saudi Arabian money was lucrative for clubs, especially in Europe, though FIFA added it to the schedule without formally consulting players. The tournament, FIFPRO said, was 'celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes. 'FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players — rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance,' the Netherlands-based union said of FIFA. 'This is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game,' FIFPRO said, adding it was 'unacceptable for an organization that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players.' FIFA was approached for comment. ___

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store