Since the disappointment arrived early enough in this championship group, the window to redeem itself is wide open. Servette can still have joys this season, even if he collapsed in Basel (5-1) last week in what was to be the match for the title.
Nevertheless, decisive matches for garnet are repeated, starting with that of Sunday (4.30 p.m.) against Young Boys. Because between Servette (2nd, 55 pts) and Lausanne (6th, 50 pts), there is not much. And everyone can claim Europe.
For Genevans, as for anyone, there is a substantive questioning that arises: is it better to finish 2nd or 3rd?
Because second place offers no qualification guarantee for a European league phase next fall, while the third (provided Basel wins the Cup final) is good to ensure that the League conference is at least participating.
2nd place, for the memory
This debate that exists among followers deserves to be posed. He had already been two years ago, when Alain Geiger’s Servette was engaged in such a struggle.
Inside the club, we were careful. And the second final place had been celebrated as a qualification for the Champions League. It looked like it, especially after the feat against Genk during the summer, which had validated the ticket for the group stage of the Europa League. Prelude to a superb season, with a long European adventure and victory in the Swiss Cup.
The memory must plead for his reissue. Why sacrifice a second place that can be so beautiful?
3rd place, because there are doubts
The context must be taken into account. In 2023, when Geiger left Servette in 2nd place, everything was well planned for the future. Appointed since March, René Weiler had been able to anticipate the construction of his team. It was true that Gaël Clichy and Kevin Mbabu would no longer be there, but Bradley Mazikou and Keigo Tsunemoto had arrived quickly during the transfer window.
In fact, the Servette at the end of the 2022-23 season and that of the start of the 2023-24 season was not fundamentally different, except these two side (of choice). In other words, garnets were able to quickly present a formed and established team.
What will be next season? If the coach should not change (except imponderable, Thomas Häberli will always be in office), we must expect a certain movement in the workforce.
Thus, Dereck Kutesa will leave, like Enzo Crivelli. Keigo Tsunemoto is undoubtedly a profile that can interest elsewhere. And you have to think that he is not the only one.
They are difficult to replace players, and it would not be surprising that the Servette from the start of next season is running. As it stands, finishing third, it would potentially be to ensure a new European adventure. In a way, to continue growing, garnets need it.
Why cable?
The fact remains that such a calculation seems very presumptuous. Already because Servette can just as well finish 4th, 5th or 6th, if it fails completely at the end of the season. Which is not completely excluded given its recent performance.
And then, above all, knowing that the Super League ends on May 24, it would look like speculation to wait on the Swiss Cup, on a probable but potential victory of Basel on Bienne on June 1.
In this kind of case, calculation is comfort. But he can be a real enemy.
Is it better to finish 2nd or 3rd in Super League for Servette?
