Caen vs Guingamp preview - Caen boosted by Fortin return

Posted Saturday, April 25, 2015 by PA

Caen coach Patrice Garande is hoping the return of chairman Jean-Francois Fortin can give his side the edge when they host Guingamp on Saturday.

Fortin will be in attendance at the Stade Michel d'Ornano for the first time since he was cleared of match-fixing allegations made late last year.

Caen go into the game 13th in Ligue 1 but just three points clear of the relegation zone, facing a Guingamp side who have won just once in their last eight games.

And, although Garande knows the game will be won or lost on the pitch, he believes the presence of Fortin could play a part in securing a positive result.

"The return of our president should give us extra energy," he told the club's official website.

"The return of the president holds a lot of emotions, especially after his speech with the players - we must not mistake that the president is not going to score a goal, but it is a factor to be taken into account. The main thing is to win this game and finish the job."

Defender Nicolas Seube echoed the comments of his coach and feels a win this weekend could secure Caen's top-flight status.

"The president is touched to see everyone," he said.

"A win could be enough in the race to keep us up, depending on the results of direct competitors - this match is one that we are prepared to win."

Guingamp sit one place and and two points above Saturday's hosts but coach Jocelyn Gourvennec still believes they also require another victory to ensure survival.

"Forty points is not not bad but it's not enough," he told the club's official website.

"To survive - a win would suffice. This late in the season the matches are much more difficult and the points are seen as very expensive.

"It will be very tight - this is an important game for both teams struggling to stay up - but no more important to one team than the other.

"Caen is a good team, they are very dynamic and score many goals. We will go to win, but obviously they will also want to win. This will be an open game"