Posted December 9, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. by Dan Marciano
Responsible for the interim, Julien Sablé has decided to entrust the role of captain to Wahbi Khazri, one of the rare players to show himself performing since the start of the season.
The eraClaude Puel at the ASSE is over. The technician was laid off after the heavy defeat of his team against Rennes in the league last Sunday (0-5). The situation had become untenable for the leaders of Saint-Etienne, who had hesitated for many weeks to part with Puel , who arrived in 2019. While they put the club up for sale, Roland Romeyer and Bernard Caïazzo opened the file of his estate. As announced by 10Sport.com exclusively, discussions with Pascal Dupraz have started. Frédéric Hantz is also courted. But while waiting for a new technician to accept the position and for Puel 's contractual situation to be resolved, the ASSE has announced that Julien Sablé will lead the first team at < strong> Stade de Reims next Saturday and will act as interim. And for this meeting, it will not be Mahdi Camara who will wear the captain's armband.
ASSE has a new captain
Interim coach, Julien Sablé made the decision remove the captain's armband from Mahdi Camara and hand it over to Wahbi Khazri , author of seven goals this season. Present at a press conference this Thursday, the technician justified his choice. “A decision has been made and we are faced with our responsibilities. The players are involved. Wahbi will be the new captain, it costs me compared to Mahdi. It's not a choice against Mahdi, it's for him and for the group. I have believed in him since a very young age and I will need him in the future “explained Sablé in comments reported by Progress.
” When I am given responsibility, that galvanizes me ”
Also present in the media, the Tunisian international confided in his new role. “Julien called me in and made me understand that he wanted me to be captain. I talked to Mahdi about it because I like him. Everything is fine with him and I think it will take some weight off him. Having the armband is not going to change my nature. What I want is to unite a group! When I am given responsibility, it galvanizes me (…) I have come a long way from two years. The priority is the ranking, the matches. Whether I'm a captain or not, that's not what changes. Everyone, we will have to raise our level to save the club ”declared Khazr i. But this change of status is not the priority of the player, focused on the pitch and the next ASSE: “Even without this exchange with Julien, we are responsible for the result. When I am given responsibility, it galvanizes me. Much more will have to be done to get out of this area ”. Red lantern of the championship, the Saint-Etienne club has two matches to try to save the furniture before the winter break.