Clermont enjoyed an excellent campaign, despite missing out on the playoffs by just two points.
They started the season with Corinne Diacre in charge but were dealt a blow when their promising coach departed to take charge of the France national female team in September. They had been going well to that point, establishing themselves as an early challenger in the young season.
Pascal Gastien was asked to step forward and take the reins. The 55-year-old had little experience in managing a senior side in recent times, having been involved in the reserves for Clermont, yet the former Niort and Chateauroux boss made the step back up impressively.
Clermont did not have any periods in which they slumped dramatically, though they may reflect on their inability to build on moving up to third in the table in November. That was followed up by three successive losses before Christmas.
Although they came back by going nine matches undefeated at the start of 2018, they were hampered by a high number of draws and it proved to be an inability to win long sequences of matches that prevented them from breaking into the top four. Additionally, they lost three crucial away games against playoff rivals Le Havre, Ajaccio and Brest all by a single goal in the run in. These slips proved decisive
The frustration of their season was summed up by a 2-2 draw against Paris FC on the final day of the season; if they had won that match, they would have made fifth.
It was a case of close but no cigar for Gastien’s side, though there were definite positives in their side, including the form of goal scorer Ludovic Ajorque and Mathias Pereira Lage. Remy Dugimont also came good after a slow start when he was linked to Nancy.
Now other sides have their eyes on Clermont’s best players and retaining them over the summer will be their toughest challenge.
