At a press conference, Zoumana Camara, coach of the MHSC, stressed the general balance of the Ligue 2, with one notable exception: the AS Saint-Étienne, whom he considers to be a superior team. He insisted on the current dynamics of the Greens, their regularity and their effective attack, which place them as serious contenders to the rise in League 1. Camara also stressed the importance of solidity, combativity and trust for the MHSC, while noting that its reconstruction project is still under way and that it does not want to set short-term classification targets. His analysis, highlighting the AS Saint-Étienne, sends a clear message to the other league teams: the Greens are to be closely monitored.

Eirik Horneland, coach of AS Saint-Étienne, has clearly expressed his ambitions to rebuild green pride and bring the club back to the European scene. He stressed the need to turn the page after the team’s relegation and committed to an ambitious reconstruction based on the game, pride and long-term vision. Horneland wants to create a strong identity and a positive atmosphere around the club, while aiming to make Saint-Étienne a team able to compete on a European scale. He emphasizes the individual development of the players at the service of the collective, while maintaining a deep attachment to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium and the unique energy of the Stéphanois fans.

Horneland describes himself as a coach who is both demanding and close to his group, focusing on the balance between rigour and benevolence. It recognizes the importance of adapting to players and circumstances, while maintaining a coherent game philosophy focused on high-cleaning, offensive creativity and pleasant football to watch. Inspired by coaches such as Klopp, Guardiola and Simeone, Horneland aspires to make ASSE a recognizable team, able to impose its game and seduce its audience. He is convinced that the passion of the fans and the hard work of the players will be the keys to achieving these goals and bringing Saint-Étienne back to the top of French football.