Ghana midfielder Elisha Owusu demands steel as AJ Auxerre fight to steady their season

There is no trace of panic in Elisha Owusu’s voice, only a firm insistence that Auxerre must harden quickly if they are to pull clear of danger. Speaking to Flashscore, the midfielder acknowledged the turbulence of their campaign but stressed that survival will hinge on sharper focus and greater resilience in decisive moments.

Auxerre’s season has lurched between encouraging spells and costly lapses. Unlike the relative calm and cohesion of the previous term, this year has been defined by inconsistency, particularly at home, where valuable points have slipped away late. Instead of consolidating progress, the club has been dragged into a tense relegation scrap in Ligue 1.

For Owusu, the explanation lies in marginal details. A narrow loss to Paris Saint-Germain encapsulated their predicament. Auxerre competed fiercely and matched the champions stride for stride before a late lapse proved fatal. “I think it’s a lack of experience,” he reflects.

“We have a new group of players with a lot of young ones. The PSG game reflects our season; we play well, fight hard, and then in the last minute lose focus. Football is more than ninety minutes; you have to stay focused the whole time.”

That fragility has surfaced repeatedly. Structure and intensity have often been evident, yet sustaining concentration through added time has remained elusive. The margins in France’s top flight are unforgiving, and Auxerre have felt that truth acutely.

However, a recent trip to Toulouse FC offered a glimpse of the steel Owusu believes must become standard. “First of all our mentality was amazing. Everybody was together. The coach showed us that we needed to do better, run more, win more duels, and be better with the ball,” he says. Freed from anxiety, the squad responded with clarity and cohesion.

“We went there with the mindset that we had nothing to lose. When you tell yourself that, you perform better because there’s no pressure or stress. Everybody did a great job.”

The psychological lift carried into the meeting with fellow strugglers FC Metz, where a 3-1 victory provided both points and belief.

“In football it’s about confidence. When you perform well against a strong team and pick up a point, it gives you confidence and something to build on.”