IL remains two days of Ligue 2 to play by the end of this 2024/2025 season, but Pau FC has already achieved its priority objective, namely maintenance. The latter had even been formalized last Friday, thanks to the results of the 32nd day, even before the great success acquired against FC Metz the next day (2-1).
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Logic, therefore, that the meeting between the Palois to Amiens, who 12th with 40 points is in the same case, appears in the first place as a meeting without stake. Pau FC coach is not at all of this opinion. It must be said that the latter and the club’s management had largely scalded by the end of last season.
Still in the race for the top 5 to six days from the end, Pau FC had completely dropped once this goal had become unattainable to finish its season with four losses in a row. “In the group, we are used to saying between us that the most important match is the one that happens. Indeed, we do not play the climb or the maintenance, but each match is a challenge and there is plenty of fixing until the end. »»
That of equaling, or even to beat, the average of points taken during the record season of the club in Ligue 2 last season is one. In a league 2 to 20 clubs, Nicolas Usai and his men had managed to garner 51 points in 38 days, or 1.34 points per game. If the Palois manage to take three points over the last two days (in Amiens this Friday and at home against Guingamp next Saturday), they would certainly exceed this ratio. Is this challenge sufficient to motivate a group that has already achieved its goal that arrives at the end of a demanding season? The Béarnaise performance last Saturday against Metz seems to prove that yes. Even if adversity and the fact that the meeting has played in front of its audience of the Camp we are also elements to take into account.
Another element comes into play according to the Palois technician: “There are many players who are at the end of the contract, others who are loaned and who will return to their original club and others who are still linked to the club. The best way to start next season is to finish this one well. The important thing is that each player, on an individual level, is convinced to do a good performance and if everyone is determined to do so, collectively, it should be fine. That there is a relaxation, it is legitimate, but it must allow us to have fun, to play game, and that is what was faced with Metz. »»
Solid Amiens at home
Pau FC must continue on this path this Friday because the task that awaits them at the unicorn is not easy. With 32 points caught at home this season on the 40 they have in total, Omar Daf’s men have been particularly effective at home this season. Conversely, Pau FC has a little more hesitant season this year far from its bases. To date, he has taken only 13 points in 16 games far from Béarn (0.81 pt/match). It is much less than the past season with 24 units garnered in 19 outside games (1.26 pt per game).
Beyond this accounting aspect, if Pau and Amiens are close to the standings, it is because they lived a little the same season as Nicolas Usai recalled in the middle of the week, before flying to Picardy: “The trajectory of Amiens this season is a bit closer to ours. We experienced a slightly more difficult period in February and March. But when we had to take points, they like us, we knew how to do it. And like us, they lost a few players at the end of the winter transfer window, with a workforce that has been reduced. The two have been able to get up and must now conclude as best as possible.
Tabbed
Young people available to the reserve Maintaining in your pocket, one would have thought that Nicolas Usai joined some young people from the reserve team during the last days as he had done last season with Gomes, who had also shown himself decisive on the field of the Girondins de Bordeaux. “This has been mentioned for three weeks, according to Nicolas Usai. The initial idea was to have young people play in the match in Amiens because the reserve does not play. Unfortunately, if they play in Amiens, they cannot play in the last two days in National 3. ”
However, the situation of the reserve team in N3 does not offer the opportunity to the coach of Palois to do so. With a small point ahead of the red zone two days before the end, the team of Bruno Rohart is actively struggling to avoid relegation in regional 1. and as to keep a reserve team in National 3 for a professional club is essential, it is logical that Nicolas Usaï leaves its best elements available for this final sprint.
Pau without boutaïb but with meddah For its trip to the Picardy capital, Pau FC will be deprived of the Moroccan international Khalid Boutaïb, author of seven goals since the start of the season. If, hit in the calf, the Palois striker was not trained of the week, Nicolas Usai hopes to see him find the group for the closing of the championship next Saturday, against Guingamp. Muscularly embarrassed, Gaspar (adductors) and Chahiri (Ischios) tested themselves during the last session Thursday morning and are also packages.
The central defender loaned by Caen, Daylam Meddah, makes his return to the group after missing the last four days of the championship. Just like Ousmane Kante, suspended last week.
