Padel, hard sessions or holidays, how Ligue 2’s Cup exits used their week | OneFootball

With six Ligue 2 clubs already out of the Coupe de France, training plans diverged this week, mixing light relief and sharp work ahead of a brief break.

Twelve of the division’s 18 sides are in the 32es de finale, their week stayed routine before ties and with the league back on three January. According to L'Équipe, those eliminated were not granted extra time off.

Annecy did bring the break forward, releasing players last Saturday and setting a return early next week. Elsewhere, squads kept going. At Rodez, staff had told players they would stay in if there was no Cup, warning two weeks off was impossible with the league coming fast.

In Aveyron it was padel on Tuesday, small-sided games Wednesday and running Thursday, with training due to resume on 27 December. Red Star face similar dates, if with a different menu. Coach Grégory Poirier looked to engage players as competition eased, using preferred drills to maintain a base level of intensity.

GPS data guided workloads. Poirier had lined up an internal match on Thursday, and said extra conditioning would fill any gaps. At the same time, Boulogne put players through a strong session that matched game demands, said coach Fabien Dagneaux.

All will then shut down for seven or eight full days before focusing on Ligue 2’s restart, while others prepare Coupe de France weekend of 10 January. For Rodez, Thomas Frette expects another match-free week to add athletic load, aiming to reach the trip to Pau as fresh as possible.

Everywhere, players have individual plans for the festive pause. Those who overindulge risk fines on their return, the scales will set the limits.

Source: L'Équipe