Today, Chokri Khatoui Must Find the Right Midfield Alloy and Offensive Combination
The Press — Although the team has parted ways with no less than eleven players, including two on loan, the Stade has made a significant impact during the summer transfer market with 14 transfers completed so far. While the Bardolais have lost key players such as Ousmane Ouattara, Bonheur Mugisha, and Khalil Ayari (an international player), and Nidhal Laifi has opted for the EST on a free transfer, the most important thing now is to find cohesion, chemistry, and automation between the new players and those already in the team's mold.
So far, in terms of the preseason balance sheet, the Stade remains unbeaten after four rounds with two wins and two draws. Moreover, what is essential to highlight is the good overall performance of the Stade's defense, a compartment that has only conceded one goal so far.
This is a testament to the good form of international goalkeeper Noureddine Farhati, the leadership of central defender Marouen Sahraoui, the team's captain who has been called up to the national team, alongside the rigor shown by young stopper Adem Arous, who is currently being scouted by Kasımpaşa SK, as well as the experience of full-back Hedi Khalfa and flank player Wael Ouerghemmi. At the same time, Chokri Khatoui can also rely on reliable defensive alternatives, such as new recruit Aziz Sayhi, a 24-year-old left-back, another left-back in Yassine Mizouni, and right-back Iyadh Riahi.
The Stade's defense has therefore performed well so far, but as the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. And currently, Chokri Khatoui still has work to do, even though his team has scored four goals in four L1 matches.
Good Reasons to be Hopeful
Today, the technical staff must find the right offensive combination and midfield alloy, without which consistency in the game cannot be achieved. In other words, in addition to midfielders Yussuf Touré and Mahamat Thiam (called up to the Chad national team for tomorrow's match against Ghana in the 7th round of World Cup qualifiers), Khatoui can count on Amath Ndaw and Elyes Jelassi to provide the necessary depth and verticality in midfield, and thus better exploit the attackers' breakthroughs in the penalty area and create the desired imbalance.
Regarding the Stade's attacking line, with a batch of new attackers including Hosni Guezmir, Firas Aifia, Abderrahmene Hanchi, Amine Khemissi, Amir Jaouadi, Amadou Ndiaye, Godswill Emmanuel, Amine Allah Habboubi, and Riadh Ouafi (a transfer from Stade Bordelais), alongside players already in place since last season, such as Youssef Saâfi, Moncef Gharbi, and Nacef Atoui, Chokri Khatoui can evolve his combinations and even revise his strategy based on the opponent's value and his team's potential.
This is a significant program for the Stade's coach, but given the overall performance of the team in recent times, there are good reasons to be hopeful if success is on the horizon.
