Annecy’s Gomes Rodriguez Ready for Rivalry Clash with Saint-Étienne
SAINT-ÉTIENNE, France – As FC Annecy prepares for a crucial Ligue 2 match against AS Saint-Étienne on March 21, 2026, young forward Chay Gomes Rodriguez is embracing the challenge, acknowledging the historical rivalry between his former club, Olympique Lyonnais, and the Les Verts. The on-loan player from Lyon spoke candidly about the upcoming fixture, his positive experience with Annecy, and his ambitions for the remainder of the season.
Gomes Rodriguez, who joined Annecy on a six-month loan deal this winter, understands the significance of the match. “It’s a super challenge for me given that Saint-Étienne is a rival of Lyon,” he said. “Today, I am at Annecy and it’s going to be a super match to play. The most important thing will be to take the three points.” The match, set to be played at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, promises a vibrant atmosphere, a detail Gomes Rodriguez is already aware of.
Finding a Home in Annecy
The 21-year-old has quickly settled into his new surroundings, praising both the coaching staff and his teammates. “Honestly, I feel good. The coach, Laurent Guyot, the players, it was everything I was looking for. It’s incredible,” he stated. He emphasized the coach’s belief in him as a key factor in his decision to join Annecy. “The coach really wanted me. It’s a good club, with a good ranking, a particularly good spirit. It’s a family club. The coach lets me play a lot. That’s really what I wanted. It’s a super club to come to when you’re a young player.”
Despite a recent dip in form – consecutive defeats against Le Mans (3-0) and Troyes (2-1) – Gomes Rodriguez remains optimistic. He acknowledged the disappointment following the loss to Troyes, attributing it to lapses in concentration. “It’s always the same [mentality], even though we lost. We played well but I think we lacked concentration at times, which cost us two goals. The next match is very important to stay close to the top 5.”
Navigating the Rivalry and Expectations
The Lyon academy graduate is well aware of the intense rivalry between the two clubs. “Yes, the first thing they told me when I arrived [at Lyon] is that I couldn’t wear green clothes,” he chuckled. However, he quickly added that this is a different match, and he intends to approach it with his usual focus. A playful moment during training, where he was spotted wearing green shoes, prompted a lighthearted response: “ (He laughs) No, I don’t think they’re really green! But I definitely won’t be wearing them this weekend for the match!”
Gomes Rodriguez revealed he’s received messages of support from his former Lyon teammates, who plan to watch the game. “They called me yesterday [Tuesday]. They wished me a good match and said a lot of people in Lyon will be watching the match. They told me to do my best, that they hope I score one or more goals. They always wish me the best, we are always in contact.”
Ligue 2 Challenge and Future Aspirations
The young forward is enjoying the increased playing time at Annecy compared to his opportunities at Lyon. “Honestly, it’s really positive. I’m very happy to have been able to play more professional matches so early. At Lyon, I was in the professional group but I wasn’t playing as much as I would have liked.” He understands that goals and assists are crucial, but as well emphasizes the importance of his work rate and adherence to the coach’s instructions. “I recognize that goals and assists are very important, that people look at that a lot, but it’s also important to see the other things I do on the field, notably the runs, and I endeavor to respect the coach’s instructions as much as possible.”
Even as he doesn’t have specific individual goals in terms of goals and assists, Gomes Rodriguez is focused on the collective objective of reaching the play-offs. “I don’t have a precise objective. The most important thing is the collective objective of reaching the play-offs. When you are a forward, people like to know how many goals you score, how many assists you give, but my concentration is only on the collective objectives.”
He described Ligue 2 as a “very tough, very physical championship, with long balls,” noting it isn’t as technically gifted as Ligue 1 but comparable physically. “You really have to be well prepared to play in this championship, especially when you’re a young player.”
Gomes Rodriguez has developed a strong relationship with coach Laurent Guyot. “I have an extraordinary relationship with the coach. He talks to me a lot, tells me what I need to improve, and sometimes lets me give my opinion. It’s going very well.”
Looking ahead, Gomes Rodriguez harbors ambitious dreams for his career. “My dream is to play for the national team. I can play for three countries (England, Portugal, Venezuela). I play for England at youth level, we’ll see if things change in the future, you never know. I want to play in the Champions League, obviously. If you ask me, individually, the Ballon d’Or is obviously a goal like it is for all young players my age.”
Annecy currently sits ninth in Ligue 2, and the match against Saint-Étienne represents a significant opportunity to climb the table and strengthen their play-off aspirations. The team will need to overcome their recent setbacks and deliver a strong performance against a historically formidable opponent in a notoriously passionate stadium. The atmosphere at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is something Gomes Rodriguez has already experienced, albeit from the bench during his time with Lyon. “I’ve already been there with Lyon but I stayed on the bench. It was a big match, there was a big atmosphere. I think it won’t be quite the same atmosphere against Annecy but it will still be a great atmosphere. It’s a good stadium to go and play in. But I’m going to go there without pressure, I never put pressure on myself.”
What’s Next: FC Annecy will face AS Saint-Étienne on March 21, 2026, at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM CET.
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