New Saint-Etienne defender Eliaquim Mangala has thrown down the gauntlet to his new teammates and told them that he is ready to do what it takes to keep Les Verts in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
Mangala - a free agent - signed with Pascal Dupraz's men last Thursday on a six-month contract and the 31-year-old central defender will soon be lacing up his boots to experience Ligue 1 Uber Eats for the very first time.
"Physically, I feel good. I will be ready very quickly for the objective of saving this club from relegation," said Mangala.
Capped eight times by France, Mangala turned professional in Belgium with Standard Liege before spells with FC Porto, Manchester City, Everton and Valencia and Dupraz expressed his delight at the club's new signing.
"He is a player who will bring calmness to our squad," said the 59-year-old tactician. "He will also bring something that is not easy to buy - experience! I am very happy with his arrival. A player of this type can only lift my players."
Mangala will have a huge task on his hands as he aims to galvanise a Saint-Étienne team sitting bottom of the table, boasting the league's second-worst goal difference and in the midst of a seven-match losing streak with time rapidly running out on their top flight status.
Les Verts will want to quickly get over the disappointment of Friday night's derby defeat at Lyon when they travel to Angers on Wednesday. Then, after Coupe de France action next weekend, Dupraz's men host Montpellier before the crucial relegation 'six-pointer' at Clermont in mid-February.
