Hybrid role sparks Irvin Cardona’s scoring surge at ASSE

Stade de Saint‑Étienne’s striker Irvin Cardona, 29, has burst onto the Ligue 2 scene with three goals in two matches, sitting alone atop the scoring chart, and coach Ian Cathro is being credited for the revival as the club ASSE looks to build early momentum.

Cardona’s three goals in the opening two Ligue 2 fixtures have made him the Meilleur buteur, leading the league alone. The striker, a Stéphanois, has turned his early season into a prolific run.

Hybrid attacker role fuels revival

Ian Cathro appears to have found the right formula by deploying Cardona as a hybrid attacker. The Scottish technicien uses a positioning that lets the forward multiply his movements and exploit his offensive qualities more fully.

Captain Julien Le Cardinal highlighted the evolution, saying, “Ce nouveau poste lui va bien, il se sent bien, même s’il y a toujours des petites choses à rectifier parce que c’est tout nouveau aussi pour lui.” He added, “Je trouve qu’il utilise pleinement ses capacités dans ce poste d’attaquant hybride. Il se place bien. Qu’il continue.”

ASSE sees promising renaissance

The hybrid role frees Cardona from a traditional number 9 confinement, allowing him to drop deeper, attack spaces and find favourable positions. His three goals in two matches illustrate the efficiency of this new approach.

Le Cardinal noted that the adaptation remains perfectible, yet it already enables the attacker to express himself fully. He joked, “Je continuerai malgré tout à lui crier dessus (rires),” reminding that progress must continue.

For ASSE, this early resurgence is excellent news, with the first results described as spectacular. Cathro’s utilisation of Cardona suggests a promising trajectory for the club’s season.