Advantage Geneva!: That is why the championship title is possible for Servette

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During Sunday’s victory in Wankdorf, Servette smelled a fuse. Although coach René Weiler doesn’t want to use the word ‘title’, there are many signs that the Geneva team is more than just a challenger to defending champion YB. Six reasons why the drought at Lac Léman could end in May after 25 years.

YB has been the ultimate in Switzerland for years. Or to put it in the words of “Züri West”: the people of Bern are “an old machine that turns and turns.” But this has come to a standstill. For the financial croissants of the competition, the title is a must, after all, they want to participate in the Champions League again, which is much easier as champions. Servette, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and dances at three more weddings. In contrast to Geneva, the cup victory for YB would be (too) weak consolation for missing the championship title.

Since the winter break, YB has been anything but confident. Wicky’s team was only able to convince against Yverdon (5:1). In Lugano, the Bernese gave away a lead three times, and against GC, Lausanne and SLO – the tail clubs of the competition – they scored a measly 1-0. And now the first home defeat in the competition in almost two years. Now the competition also knows that you can win on artificial grass in Bern. With the FCZ (in Zurich) and the FCB waiting for YB, Servette has two home games ahead of him; against St. Gallen and Lausanne, two of the weakest teams in the second half of the season.

After initial difficulties in the competition, René Weiler continues the work of his predecessor Alain Geiger seamlessly. Since being promoted again in 2018, Servette has improved little by little and established himself as the clear number 2 in the league. The axis Yoan Severin, Steve Rouiller, Timothé Cognat and Miroslav Stevanovic have been playing together for years. A reason for Geneva’s consistency of just one defeat in the last 18 league games.

YB still has better quality on paper. But with Ulisses Garcia, Jean-Pierre Nsame and Donat Rrudhani, YB faces significant departures, as well as the weeks-long absence of Filip Ugrinic and Loris Benito. Not everything went as planned at Servette either, because due to an administrative error not all winter entrances could be used. With Ronny Rodelin on loan, Takuma Nishimura can at least play against YB from the start. Others step into the breach for lost top scorer Chris Bedia; especially Dereck Kutesa and Alexis Antunes.

The calm in the club has been the key to Bern’s successes in recent years. Now – despite us leading the table – there is everything but peace, joy and pancakes. Top scorer Jean-Pierre Nsame, who was sold to Como, resigned against YB officials last week. This was followed by a penalty dispute in Lisbon, when shooter Silvère Ganvoula defied the coach’s instructions. And the general criticism of goalkeeper David von Ballmoos after the game with Servette makes you sit up and remark: “One or the other had too little motivation.”

With YB he achieved all his goals: the double, the Champions League, wintering in a European competition. Still, it seems that the love between the series champion and coach Raphael Wicky has expired. The question has been raised for weeks whether the Valais will still be on the sidelines in Bern after the summer. YB would do well to clarify the future of its key personnel soon.

Source : Blick