Didier Tholot lashes out at Sion after Saint‑Étienne thrashing
Didier Tholot, former Saint‑Étienne striker and now coach of FC Sion, left the post‑match interview furious after his side were beaten 5‑1 in a friendly against ASSE. He offered no excuses, calling the display "one of the worst matches" of the season and warning that the result must serve as a stark alert for his players.
Harsh assessment of the team
Tholot said the Swiss side opened the scoring but quickly lost momentum once the equaliser came. "The opening goal and the first ten minutes were fine, but after we conceded the equaliser there was nothing left from us," he explained. He added that the team failed to reproduce any of the qualities that had characterised Sion since the season restart.
The coach also dismissed any notion that the defeat could be chalked up to the friendly nature of the game. "It is not tolerable to take five goals," he insisted, stressing that the opponent’s performance was irrelevant to his criticism. "I am not here to judge the opponent, I am here to judge my team," Tholot said.
Saint‑Étienne’s dominance
ASSE, known as Les Verts, capitalised on the absence of twelve Saint‑Étienne internationals and the presence of current Swiss league third‑place form. Jakob Breum and Thierno Ballo each netted a double, while João Ferreira added a further goal to seal the comprehensive win.
Tholot, a native of Feurs who played for ASSE between 1991 and 1993, expressed personal disappointment at seeing his former club dominate his current side. "The Verts have filled their confidence tank," he remarked, referencing the Saint‑Étienne nickname.
In the interview recorded for En Vert et Contre Tous, Tholot used the phrase "Pas question" to underline his refusal to downplay the loss. He concluded that the heavy defeat must become a lesson and a warning for Sion’s upcoming league campaign.
Looking ahead, Tholot warned that the squad must react swiftly in the Swiss championship, stating, "It is a big alert and we must use it." The coach left the press conference with a clear message: his players are now warned and must improve or face further consequences.