AJ Auxerre is in the midst of a defensive crisis after conceding eight goals in just two Ligue 1 matches. The Burgundy club, currently 18th in the standings with 0 points and a -5 goal difference, must find quick solutions.
The last team to suffer such a setback over two matchdays was Stade de Reims back in 2022. For Auxerre, the season started with a heavy 5-2 defeat away at RC Lens on August 22. The following week, Will Still's team conceded again, this time at home, losing 3-1 to Angers.
The 33-year-old manager, Will Still, is fully aware of the problem. "Je suis d'accord!", he stated, acknowledging the urgency of the situation. The task is complex, as the summer transfer window saw the departure of several key players, including goalkeeper Donovan Léon, midfielder Elisha Owusu, and forward Lassine Sinayoko.
To compensate for these exits, the club invested 2 million euros to sign Mauritanian goalkeeper Mamadou Diop, aged 26 with eight caps, from Grenoble. He signed a four-year contract. In central defense, the coaching staff theoretically has eight players, but the on-pitch reality is less favorable.
Rebuilding collective defensive maturity is an absolute priority. Work must focus on set-piece defending and reinforced defensive discipline, potentially through video analysis. Finding the right central partnership and a solution to allow the full-backs to flourish are immediate challenges.
The situation is complicated by absences. Bryan Okoh, 23, is seriously injured and unavailable until the end of the year. Recent signing Axel Tuanzebe, 28, who arrived from Burnley after a spell at Manchester United and is a Congolese international (17 caps, 1 goal), is not ready to face Lyon this Friday. Francisco Sierralta, 29, could meanwhile be transferred.
Facing this crisis, Will Still must improvise. On the right, Lamine Sy seems the natural option. On the left, the choice will be between Fredrik Oppegard, Clément Akpa, or Sékou Fofana. In midfield, the defensive midfield role, which needs to be an efficient filter, will fall to Arthur Piedfort or Pierre Ekwah in a three-man setup.
The injury list, available on our injuries page, is concerning. Besides Okoh and Tuanzebe, Assane Dioussé, Fredrik Oppegård, Marvin Senaya, and Sekou Fofana are also sidelined. This accumulation weighs heavily on the manager's tactical options.
Auxerre occupies 18th place in the championship, seven points behind leaders Lille. With three goals scored and eight conceded, the record is alarming. The next opportunity to turn things around will come on September 12, 2026, with the home fixture against OGC Nice, currently 17th. All schedule details are on our fixtures page.
The stakes are high to prevent this poor dynamic from becoming entrenched. The match against Nice, scheduled at home, represents a potential turning point in Auxerre's season.
