Saint-Etienne are "focussed on the hope" the two legs of the relegation/promotion play-off against Auxerre give them of retaining their place in Ligue 1 Uber Eats for next season, says coach Pascal Dupraz.
Romain Hamouma's late equaliser against Nantes in the dying embers of the top-flight season ensured the ten-time French champions climbed out of the automatic relegation places at Metz's expense and gave themselves a chance of remaining in the top flight come the 2022/23 campaign.
"We've been focused since the final whistle, focussed on this double confrontation with Auxerre," said Dupraz, who took over from Claude Puel in mid-December with the goal of saving the club from relegation. "There's danger, but also hope. I prefer to concentrate on that hope. I have put together a group with mostly young players who have experienced players around them, and no-one has disappointed me in terms of their commitment and desire to improve. I have no doubts about the intentions of my players. They want to see it through."
WATCH: Hamouma strike throws Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 lifeline
The trip to Burgundy for Thursday's first leg promises to be perillous. Auxerre, who finished third in Ligue 2 BKT, just a point off automatic promotion, are unbeaten in nine competitive outings and last lost a home game back in mid-March. Saint-Etienne meanwhile have to go back to mid-February to find their last away victory, but Dupraz is characteristically bullish about his team's chances.
"We are still very determined. We haven't always done everything well, but we have done enough to get into the play-off and be able to battle right to the last second to stay in Ligue 1 Uber Eats," said the ex-Toulouse coach, whose team will host the second leg at a sold-out Stade Geoffroy Guichard — albeit with one stand closed for disciplinary reasons — on Sunday.
"We're going to have two games very close together. It's important to know what mental state the players are in and whether or not they are physically fit. They all want to play, but they're going to tell me how they really feel. They know what this play-off means."
Auxerre are fully aware too as they seek to end a decade-long absence from the top flight. Coach Jean-Marc Furlan holds the record for promotions to the premier division with four, the last of which came with Brest in 2019. But even the veteran tactician is impressed by the excitement around the tie.
"The supporters' enthusiasm is fantastic. I've rarely experienced the sort of fervour there is in the stadium here," said Furlan, who will look to experienced forward Gaëtan Charbonnier — involved in seven of his team's last eight goals — to inspire his side.
"I'm going into this play-off with less tension than in recent games. I think the players have been exceptional in how they have progressed in the last two years. I'm a little more relaxed for this tie. We're playing a Ligue 1 side, a prestigious club with big individual players. We have to surpass ourselves and go beyond that."
Probable teams
Auxerre: Léon - Arcus, Jubal, Pellenard, Bernard - Touré (cap) - Sinayoko, Hein, Sakhi, Autret - Charbonnier.
Saint-Etienne: Bernardoni - Sacko, Moukoudi, Nadé - Maçon, Camara, Gourna-Douath, Trauco - Nordin, Crivelli, Bouanga (cap).
