Five wins in five matches: Cathro demands more from Saint-Étienne

Saint-Étienne has won its first five Ligue 2 matches and has immediately positioned itself as one of the main favourites for promotion to Ligue 1, under the guidance of Scottish manager Ian Cathro, who recently took over the Saint-Étienne bench.

Sports director Loïc Perrin justified the choice of Cathro by emphasizing his demanding profile: “The idea was to find a manager who matched the project, what we wanted to do. It’s easy to talk about it today because it’s working, there may be some trickier moments ahead. I like what he represents, he’s a perfectionist.” The Saint-Étienne board is nevertheless calling for caution despite this ideal start.

This caution is shared by Cathro himself, who, despite the perfect record, shows no satisfaction. Perrin confirmed it: “He is not satisfied with the start of the season. Today, the players are on board, that’s the main thing. What’s done is done and now we have to continue, be better day after day, match after match. That’s the coach’s message and it’s a totally coherent one.”

The coming matchdays will provide a more serious test to measure the true level of these Greens. ASSE will travel successively to Dunkerque and then to Metz, two away trips that will confirm — or not — the solidity of this new playing identity.