Caen seek happy return for Dumas
Friday, January 11, 2008
Article summary
SM Caen coach Franck Dumas turned 40 in midweek and a perfect gift would be for his team to continue their superb Ligue 1 form against AS Nancy-Lorraine.
Article body
SM Caen manager Franck Dumas turned 40 on Wednesday and the perfect present would be for his team to continue their superb Ligue 1 form against AS Nancy-Lorraine this weekend.
Impressive start
Promoted in the summer, Caen lie an impressive fourth in the table, two places below their visitors as the season resumes on Saturday. "You would be stupid not to enjoy this situation," said Dumas. His side are pushing for a UEFA Champions League berth despite having the sixth-lowest budget in the division, and having exited the French Cup against Ligue 2 team CS Sedan-Ardennes last week.
Promotion
Founded in 1913, Caen have never won a major trophy and their entire European experience comprises a UEFA Cup first-round defeat by Real Zaragoza in 1992/93, following their club-best fifth-placed finish during a rare seven-year Ligue 1 spell. However, they have produced the likes of William Gallas, Jérôme Rothen and Mathieu Bodmer as well as Dumas, who took his current role two seasons ago. Last term a last-day win against FC Libourne Saint-Seurin earned promotion, and among Caen's fine results so far has been December's 1-0 defeat of Olympique Lyonnais.
Transformation
Yet they hardly made an auspicious start to the campaign, sitting 16th after nine games, before a tactical change in late September transformed their fortunes. "Playing with two strikers was too ambitious for us at this level," said playmaker Anthony Deroin. "Franck strengthened the midfield and we improved in defence." Dumas added: "We finished 2007 with five straight wins and in fourth place, but the aim is to avoid relegation."
'We can go further'
France Under-21 striker Yoan Gouffran has been among the players to impress, turning down an offer from Paris Saint-Germain FC, though he is out with a thigh strain along with midfielder Sébastien Mazure, who has a groin problem. Nicolas Florentin is sidelined by illness and there is a doubt over goalkeeper Vincent Planté. Deroin said: "We can't afford any complacency, but I think we can hold on to fourth place. We just wanted to show that we deserved to be in the top flight and now, with a settled lineup, we can go further."
