The AS Saint-Étienne suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against the Paris FC in its fourth prep match at Thonon-les-Bains, raising concerns about its form before the Ligue 2 recovery. Despite the absence of several key players, the Thonon team showed signs of mastery, especially in the second period, suggesting tactical and physical weaknesses among the Greens. Coach Stéphen Gilli, although satisfied with the attitude and commitment of the players, recognizes the urgent need for offensive and defensive solutions before the start of the season.

Beyond this disappointment, attention is drawn to Nadir El Jamalii, a young midfielder from the training centre, who is impressed by his maturity, his game intelligence and his technical qualities. Already invited to the summer workshop with the professional team, he made a good impression during the friendly, especially with a decisive pass. Its versatile profile, capable of embodying both a relayer and a creative player, arouses the enthusiasm of educators and could quickly seduce the new coach Eirik Horneland. His journey, marked by a steady progression and an impeccable mentality, makes him a promise for the future of the club.

At the same time, the arrival of Joshua Duffus, a young English attacker, is a welcome reinforcement for the Stéphanois attack, which cruelly lacked solutions to this post. After a promising entry into the game against the Paris FC, he demonstrated his ability to make himself available, to weigh on the opposing defense and to bring energy to the team. His striking and altruistic profile could allow him to quickly join the group and claim a place in the rotation, thus offering an additional option for coach Horneland before the start of the championship.