Augustine Boakye et Ian Cathro en conf' avant #ASSEFCN

Press Conference Before Saint-Étienne–Nantes

This video is a pre-match press conference, not coverage of the match itself. No score or match events are given.

• Reflection on the previous match: Ian Cathro said that around the 82nd–83rd minute, he saw unusual determination from the players and felt the substitutes were just as engaged as those on the pitch. He saw this as a sign that the squad had become a team and urged supporters to get behind them.
• Building the squad: Cathro described an ongoing process, begun on July 1, to establish shared ways of working and playing and shape the squad’s balance and player profiles. He said the work would continue rather than end with one good moment.
• Availability: Cathro said Tamar would be out for several weeks. Gautier was also expected to miss several weeks, with his condition to be assessed over time. Chico was available, and Julian could continue after a knee issue in the previous match.
• The Nantes fixture: Cathro called it a major game, citing the clubs’ histories and the quality of both squads. He argued that previous results and league points would matter less than what happened on the pitch from the opening minutes. He expected both teams to be able to keep possession and attack quickly, and stressed the need for organization, intensity, patience, and control.
• Team approach: Cathro said he did not view players as starters and substitutes; he counted all 22 players as part of the team. Selection decisions would vary from match to match, but everyone was expected to contribute and improve.
• Individual praise: Cathro said Augustine Boakye was becoming an important player and had improved defensively. He described Boakye’s recovery work and efforts to close space in the previous match as exceptional. He also praised Zuriko for his defensive intensity, while noting that illness after the international break had affected him.
• Other topics: Cathro said playing in front of closed stands had not harmed the team’s concentration, though he preferred having supporters present. He said he was still learning how refereeing relationships work in France and did not want to comment further. He also spoke about wanting to build a better connection with fans while maintaining privacy and time for the squad to work.

Presenters: Ian Cathro; Augustine Boakye is named in the video title, but his remarks are not clearly distinguishable in the subtitles. Source: ASSE Officiel.