After weeks of sharp criticism, consultant Maxime Chanot sat down with AJ Auxerre on Thursday for a face‑to‑face with Belgian‑British coach Will Still. He later detailed the meeting on After Foot.
‘He’s overrated, I’m not convinced but I hope to be proven wrong,’ Chanot said in April when Still was linked to a Ligue 1 return. He added in late August, ‘Tactically, Still is limited. After two games it’s clear Auxerre will face a tough road.’
Weeks later the showdown arrived. Auxerre invited Chanot to Burgundy to test his view against Still. The outcome will appear soon on RMC Sport’s site and socials, while Chanot recapped the encounter for After Foot.
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‘The training was impeccably organized by Still and his staff. I arrived uneasy (smile), but loved the drill and player management. The atmosphere felt healthy, the squad united behind the coach, intensity high. The club runs smoothly, and I sensed a man accustomed to top‑level football,’ he explained. In my view, Still’s tactical approach deserves more credit than critics give.
‘Listening to Still was crucial to justify my stance. I admired him at Reims, less so at Lens and Southampton. Today he gave me a chance to observe him up close. His team management is top‑tier, and he adapts to his players’ quality,’ said the former New York City FC defender and Luxembourg international (72 caps, 4 goals). When asked if he could stay impartial after today’s visit, Chanot replied, ‘Absolutely!’
Currently tenth in Ligue 1, Auxerre travel to Stade Rennais this Sunday at 17:15 for matchday six.