The summer preparation of the AS Saint-Étienne was contrasted, marked by three defeats and two victories. Despite a promising start with two successes against the Star Carouge and Troyes, and a solid performance against the Servette FC, the team then faced difficulties, notably during the matches against Paris FC and Cagliari. Players like Chico Lambaa, Mickaël Nadé and Lassana Traoré have shown great promises, as have the return of key players like Djylian N’Guessa, Lucas Staassin and Zuriko Davitashvili. The upcoming arrival of Annan Ebenezér and João Ferreira, as well as the development of a new khaki third jersey, also mark this transition period.

The team stood out at the Luigi Riva Trophy in Cagliari, although it conceded a third consecutive loss before the season’s recovery in Ligue 2. Offensive difficulties, lack of automation and lack of certainty in team composition are major concerns for Eirik Horneland’s technical staff. The club continues to restructure behind the scenes, with a strengthening of the recruitment cell and a special attention to the mental health of the players.

The situation of Benjamín Bouchouaari took a new turn, with the increasing interest of Olympique Lyonnais, direct rival of Saint-Étienne. While the Turkish club in Trabzonspor was competing for its acquisition, OL showed a concrete interest, which prompted ASSE to reconsider its position. The Lyon club appreciates the profile of the Stéphanois midfielder and wishes to strengthen its field environment. ASSE remains attentive to developments and is already considering a compensation plan in case of departure from Bouchouaari.