Florian Tardieu, aged 33, asserts himself as an undisputed leader of AS Saint-Étienne, appointed vice-captain by Erik Horneland. In an interview with Tribune Verte, he expressed his determination to bring the club back to its rightful place in Ligue 2, stressing the importance of an irreproachable state of mind, regularity and a solid defence. With his experience of 287 professional games, he feels ready to guide his teammates, including young and new recruits, by highlighting the crucial role of experience in key moments. He also welcomes the evolution of the technical staff, highlighting the benefits of a personalized follow-up for each player.

In parallel, Norwegian ASSE coach Erik Horneland spoke to the press as the game approached Grenoble. He discussed the physical condition of the team, highlighting several important absences. Yvann Mason and Dylan Batubinsika are still unavailable, and Pierre Ekwah has not yet returned. Benjamin Bouchouaari fights back pain, while Djylian Nguessa is only expected after the international truce following a muscle injury. Maxime Bernauer could be available for the match against Grenoble after his return to the collective.

The coach also clarified the condition of several other injured players. Dennis Appiah and Ebenezer Annan are out for the next four weeks, and the situation of Aimen Moueffek, touched by the ankle, is uncertain. Zuriko Davitashvili is currently ill. Horneland stressed the need to deal with these absences, while showing confidence in the team’s ability to overcome these difficulties and aim for first place in the standings after two wins and one draw in the first three games of the season.