the Ultras of the Loire Brigade had warned at the beginning of April, when the Canaries had presented themselves, heads bowed, at the foot of their tribune after the 3-0 defeat against Reims. “We are not maintained guys (…)! If we go to Ligue 2, believe us that the (Coupe de France), we don’t give a damn! ”, had launched the spokesperson in his megaphone.
The following week, they danced on the pitch after the semi-final victory against Lyon (1-0) then exulted when Nantes, led 2-0 by Monaco, snatched the point from a draw (2-2). The team was then five points ahead of the red zone, and was not doing too badly after two dantesque months: between the beginning of February and the beginning of April, it played 16 matches, facing Juventus Turin in the League play-offs. Europa and nine of the top ten in L1. But now that the opponents of “their” championship have arrived on the calendar, the Canaries have no more excuses. And they burned a first joker last week in Auxerre.
Again trailing 2-0 at the break after a handball from Andrei Girotto and a hasty raise from Alban Lafont – two usually so precious executives -, the Nantes reacted too late (2-1 defeat) and n have more than two small steps ahead of the first non-relegation. Furious at the final whistle, Antoine Kombouaré got carried away at the microphone of Amazon Prime against his “team of m…”, before tempering his remarks at a press conference. “Everyone talks to you about a good season with the Europa League and the Coupe de France but we are not aware that the danger of relegation awaits us”, explained the coach.
On Friday, he even showed himself to be understanding: “We all have a little head already” for the final, he declared, evoking his own memories as a player before a final, concerned about the organization of the big day and not to get hurt. Even if Nantes remains on eight matches without victory in L1, “I have enormous confidence in my group. I’m angry, I run into them, but I know what they are capable of,” he insisted. The players may not be “really focused” on the championship until after the final, but “they know that if I have to choose, the most important thing is maintenance. The Coupe de France I do not care.
In the meantime, the supporters find themselves traversed by contradictory emotions. On the one hand, preparations for the party at the Stade de France, with tickets sold out, a special train, around fifty coaches, two giant screens planned for Nantes… And, beyond that, tenacious hope a new double, after that of 1999 and 2000, and an additional season in the Europa League.
On the other, the anguish of a new poor performance on Sunday against Troyes, almost relegated, then during the matches in Brest and against Strasbourg, the two other direct competitors for the maintenance with Auxerre, the week which will follow the final. Sunday, the Canaries will have the advantage of playing in a full stadium on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the club, born on April 21, 1943 from the association of six amateur clubs and turned professional two years later. All places were at 15 euros and a special jersey was produced. It remains to wet it… “It’s a game for survival. The situation is critical. We need a maximum of points (…). Everyone is aware of it, ”promised captain Alban Lafont.