Coach Ian Cathro Unhappy With Fans' "Olé" Chants During Big Win
Ian Cathro, the head coach of Saint-Étienne (ASSE), was not happy about how some fans reacted during a recent match.
ASSE played against Grenoble Foot 38 and won by a large margin. This kind of big win is sometimes called a "rout" in football.
During the match, fans at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium started singing "olé" chants. These chants are usually used when a team is winning very easily and passing the ball a lot.
Cathro said he did not agree with the timing or style of these chants. He explained, "I did not find that it was the right moment, nor the right way."
The coach did not go into more details about exactly why he felt this way, but his comment suggests he wanted a more serious atmosphere from supporters, even during a strong performance.
After the match, Cathro also spoke about how the team should think about the win. He said the players should not just enjoy this victory, but should already be thinking about future games.
His words were: "Do not be satisfied with this victory, but look forward."
This message shows that Cathro wants his team to stay focused and keep improving, instead of relaxing after one good result.
Saint-Étienne's fans are known as "les Verts" ("the Greens"), and the club plays its home matches at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, a well-known venue in French football.
Vocabulary5 words
- head coach
- the main person who trains and leads a sports team
- margin
- the difference in score between two teams
- rout
- a very easy win with a big score difference
- atmosphere
- the feeling or mood in a place
- victory
- a win in a game or competition
Quiz
Answer key
1. ASSE won by a large margin 2. Because the game was very easy and one-sided 3. Not be satisfied, and think about future games
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Ian Cathro, the head coach of Saint-Étienne (ASSE), was not happy about how some _____ reacted during a recent match.
ASSE played against Grenoble Foot 38 and won by a large _____.
During the match, fans at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium started singing "_____" chants.
Cathro said he did not agree with the _____ or style of these chants.
He explained, "I did not find that it was the right moment, nor the right _____."
The coach's comment suggests he wanted a more serious _____ from supporters.
Cathro said the players should not just enjoy this _____, but think about future games.
His words were: "Do not be satisfied with this victory, but look _____."
This message shows that Cathro wants his team to stay _____ and keep improving.
Saint-Étienne's fans are known as "les Verts", and the club plays at the Geoffroy-Guichard _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think some fans sing "olé" during easy wins?
- Do you agree with Cathro's reaction to the chants? Why or why not?
- Why might a coach want players to stay focused even after a big win?
- Have you ever seen a coach criticize fans' behavior? What happened?