ASSE hand players four-day break as Montanier urges switch-off before run-in | OneFootball

ASSE held a gentle session on Wednesday morning, including a brief intra-squad game, then broke for four days. According to Le Progres, the pause is designed to recharge bodies and minds ahead of the run-in.

About 20 supporters watched the final session of the week as the last international break of the season began.

Philippe Montanier said the group had been pushing hard since two February and needed to reset physically and mentally. He wants players to go home, stop thinking about football and return fresh for the final stretch.

The run-in starts away at Nancy on Saturday four April at 20:00. Maxime Bernauer is back in full training and featured in a short practice game with the reserves, where youngsters stepped up with several seniors on international duty.

Eight players are away on international duty. Lucas Stassin faces USA and Mexico with Belgium. Zuriko Davitashvili has three games for Georgia against Israel, Lithuania and Romania.

Irvin Cardona links up with Luxembourg to meet Malta home and away. Abdoulaye Kanté joins Morocco U23 for two matches with Ivory Coast U23.

Ben Old travels for New Zealand’s friendlies with Finland and Chile. Paul Eymard and Axel Dodote are with France U19, who drew 2-2 with Norway U19 on Wednesday and play Switzerland U19 then Croatia U19.

Strahinja Stojkovic is with Serbia U19, who beat England U19 2-0 on Wednesday and face Portugal U19 then Poland U19.

Source: Le Progres