Philippe Montanier’s first public session centres on defence, aims to match fans’ expectations | OneFootball

Greeted by around 100 supporters on Tuesday 3 February, Philippe Montanier oversaw his first public session, centred on defensive solidity. He said he would draw on the warmth of Saint-Étienne’s support to lift the group quickly.

According to Le Progres, at the Robert-Herbin training centre the Vernon-born successor to Eirik Horneland looked immediately at home. A former goalkeeper who wore the green shirt in 1999-2000, he now directs operations from the touchline.

Tasked with reviving a side that has looked apathetic in recent weeks, the coach in his sixties is already leaning on new arrivals. Aboubaka Soumahoro, Julien Le Cardinal, Abdoulaye Kanté and the young Estonian Marten-Chris Paalberg all trained on Tuesday.

He said the recruits are proud to wear the shirt and will strengthen the squad, and that he contacted their former clubs to assess each player’s fitness. An advocate of data but above all the human journey, he ordered a rigorous video analysis before the group stepped onto the grass to set defensive foundations.

On the pitch he kept it purposeful on the touchline, raising his voice, stressing a compact block and movement between the lines. He noted some of his principles are new to certain players and must be absorbed quickly for the team to move forward. Whether those early tweaks pay off on Saturday at Geoffroy-Guichard against MHSC remains to be seen.

Source: Le Progres