Pierre Ménès backs Saint-Etienne for Ligue 1 return

Pierre Ménès has placed Saint-Etienne at the front of the promotion race, saying the club can return to Ligue 1 this season. The former Canal+ consultant gave that assessment in his YouTube programme, Face à Pierrot, as the Verts maintain a perfect start in the second tier.

Saint-Etienne have won all three of their matches, beating Sochaux 3-0, Clermont 3-1 and Grenoble 4-0. The run has produced 10 goals and only two conceded, putting the club among the leading candidates for promotion on early form. The results have also strengthened the belief that this could be the season when the club ends its stay outside Ligue 1.

Ménès linked that expectation to the investment made by Saint-Etienne’s new owners and the strong enthusiasm around the club. He also argued that Ligue 1 would benefit from the return of historic names, mentioning Saint-Etienne alongside Nantes and Bordeaux. In his view, those clubs would add greater media reach and interest to the top flight, while acknowledging that the current Ligue 1 teams have earned their places on sporting grounds.

Saint-Etienne will aim for a fourth consecutive victory when it faces Dijon next Monday at 20:45.