The ASSE under pressure: Dennis Appiah calls the collective for the derby

A few days from the shock against Grenoble FC, the AS Saint-Étienne is preparing for a crucial match for its ambitions to maintain in Ligue 2. The midfielder, Dennis Appiah, stressed the need for a result for his team, stressing the urgency of taking points against the tight race in the standings.

“Five games, fifteen points to take,” said Appiah, recalling the pressure related to the limited number of remaining matches. “We must not waste time, we must take the points as soon as possible. "

The absence of several key players, including the Bouchouri milieu and the attackers Stassin and Cardona (due to injuries and absence), is a matter of concern. However, Appiah insists on the strength of the team collective. “We have a collective, we have players who are there, who train every day, who are there to make up for absences when you need them.”

The derby against Grenoble FC, which will be played at home, is seen as a separate match. Appiah expressed his enthusiasm for this evening, despite the pressure. “It’s true that at the beginning of the season, it’s boxes that we check every time. Two years ago, when I signed up, I came to play a derby too.”

Despite the difficulties encountered in the previous match against Brest (taken several times before returning), Appiah remains optimistic and emphasizes the need to persevere. “On every occasion we were led, each time we managed to return. On this game, yes. Then every game has its truth. But it is true that it is an axis on which we must work. We still need to make progress. We still have to put the cursor on that.”

The desirability of taking three points is seen as essential, particularly given the situation in the ranking. However, Appiah recognizes the difficulty of the match against Grenoble FC, stressing the need to remain focused and not to be distanced. “I’m disappointed because I would have preferred to take three points on this game.”