If FC Nantes were a plane, its president Waldemar Kita would press all the buttons in the cockpit hoping that it works. It is clear that the choices of the Canaries have led to results: nine consecutive stays in Ligue 1, a France Cup and an honest run in the Europa League. Until collapsing at the end of the season: eleven consecutive matches without a win in the league (series in progress) and a humiliation in the final of the cup by Toulouse (1-5).
To discover
- From birth under the bombs to the game in Nantes, the history of FC Nantes
- Ligue 1 schedule and results
- Ligue 1 standings
Suddenly, there is almost nothing left in Nantes. Antoine Kombouaré paid the price. The Kanak coach was dismissed on Tuesday, two days after a defeat at home against a direct competitor to maintain, Strasbourg (0-2). The Nantes management is playing its part. To fire the coach is to hope for an electroshock, a burst of pride to save a historic club. It is a major reflex of club in crisis, the second after that of a financial nature. According to L'Équipe and Ouest-France, the players were promised a bonus of 50,000 euros each in case of maintenance, before the match against Strasbourg.
SEE ALSO – All the goals of Nantes-Toulouse in the final of the Coupe de France on April 29 (1-5)
Kombouaré's strong words didn't change anything
Now, Nantes, which is two points behind Auxerre and three on Strasbourg and Brest, no longer has its destiny in its hands. He still has one, and he was put in the hands of Pierre Aristouy, 43, until now in charge of the U19 at the club. He will be assisted by former Venezuelan international and former Nantes defender, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (38), who coached the women's team in D2. The priority, the urgency even, is with the boys, because it is the showcase and the source of income of the club. But for now, it is mainly a construction site.
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We are null, but the 16th place is two points, it stretches its arms, diagnosed Kombouaré Sunday. There is hope. We have to get a big kick in the ass." The now ex-coach described his group as a "team", after a setback in Auxerre on April 16 (2-1). At the end, Kombouaré fumbled. He tried a new 3-5-2 system as a baroud of honor against Strasbourg. In vain. In front, Ludovic Blas is no longer inspired, Moses Simon and Florent Mollet are short of rhythm, and defensive solidity is missing on the banks of the Loire.
An affordable calendar
Above all, executives have failed, from the ball of the goalkeeper and captain Alban Lafont in Brest a week ago (0-2) to the penalty conceded by Jean-Charles Castelletto against Strasbourg. "We are in an ultra-negative spiral, we can not get our heads out of the water," Lafont exasperated Sunday. Perhaps the worst thing is that Lafont observes a problem "in attitudes". "The hardest thing is to regain confidence, envy," he said.
Nantes will face its responsibilities against Toulouse and Montpellier, two teams that no longer play anything, before going to Lille, currently 5th who plays Europe, and receiving Angers, lanterne rouge. "This is the time or never to get out of the fog," wrote Nantes supporters on a banner Sunday. The club with eight league titles still has cartridges. But he hasn't hit the nail on the head for a long time.