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Waldemar Kita is not the type to be nostalgic.
Not in terms of the history of FC Nantes in any case.
The president of the club on the banks of the Erdre is not the type to celebrate with great fanfare the exploits of the past or surround himself with former stars of the Canaries.
It must be said that the legacy is heavy to bear for a team that has become accustomed to vegetating in the soft underbelly of Ligue 1. Yes, but that was before.
Last year, the Yellows and Greens revived their great history by winning the Coupe de France against Nice.
Better still, they are making an excellent run in the Europa League this year.
Read alsoLens-Nantes: the Sang et Or regain victory, the Canaries guilty in defense
It will continue this Thursday evening with the second leg of the round of 16 against Juventus in Turin, which will kick off at 6:45 p.m.
A hopeful match for the Canaries after the good draw obtained (1-1) last week in Italy.
Something to change the habits of Waldemar Kita and the club he chairs a little.
In addition to a sold-out stadium, more than 35,000 people, the people of Nantes will be able to count on the support of illustrious players and coaches invited for the occasion.
More than a dozen members of the 1996 squad who faced the Bianconeri in the semi-finals of the Champions League will be in the stands.
There will also be one of their opponent.
This one too should be acclaimed.
Casagrande, N'Doram, Makelele...
Among the players invited for the occasion, names that speak to those who followed football in the 1990s: Dominique Cassagrande, Eddy Capron, Éric Decroix, Jocelyn Gouvennec, David Marraud, Nicolas Ouédec, Bruno Carrotti, Claude Makélélé, Roman Kosecki , Laurent Peyrelade.
There are also three scorers in the return match against Juventus in 1996: Éric Decroix, Japhet N'Doram and Franck Renou.
A match not broadcast in the clear
The broadcast of the second leg of the Europa League play-off between FC Nantes and Juventus Turin will be reserved only for subscribers to the RMC Sport 1 channel. Broadcast on W9, the first leg (1-1) had attracted 1.4 million viewers .
Jean-Claude Suaudeau, the strategist who was in charge of training these players and champion of the "Nantes game", will also be present for the occasion.
At his side, as in the heyday, there will be his deputy Georges Eo.
The program of the festivities and the honor which will be granted to them is not precisely known.
In a press release, FC Nantes indicated
“that a special welcome will be granted to them
” and “
that a presentation to the public of La Beaujoire is planned as well as other surprises
”
.
... and Didier Deschamps
On the Italian side, only one representative of the 1996 version of the Old Lady will be present.
And what a representative!
This is the former midfielder Didier Deschamps, current coach of the Blues and world champion in 2018.
Read alsoEuropa League: “It will be a different match”, warns Allegri before the return to Nantes
A stadium he knows well for having attended it at the start of his career with FC Nantes after having trained there.
It remains to be seen which team he will support this Thursday evening.
