With three days to go, the FC Nantes (14th) still has to maintain his position since he only has a three-point lead over the Metz play-off. All with an end to the calendar that promises to be tricky. The Canaries will indeed go to Brest (3rd) this Saturday (9 p.m.), before receiving Lille (4th) and going to Monaco (2nd). They will therefore be obliged to create a surprise in one or more of these three meetings if they hope to keep their destiny in hand. The Nantes coach, Antoine Kombouarewas present at a press conference to discuss the 32nd day of League 1 at Francis-Le Blé as well as this end of the high-stakes season.
Also read >> FC Nantes – Antoine Kombouaré after Montpellier (1-1): “We scared ourselves very much with this catastrophic start to the match”
The Brest opponent
“ What they are experiencing is fabulous. Good for them, I’m happy, plus it’s a friend who is at the head of the team […] They have an exceptional journey, which deserves respect […] They deserve their ranking, their place, and then it’s historic with their first qualification for the European Cup […] It’s a very generous team, they play every match to their fullest. They give a lot of effort, in the last four matches, they score 12 goals and concede 13 […] It’s a game with a lot of intensity, total commitment, and it pays off. »
How to raise your level of play for the occasion?
“ The players have been warned, we have had sessions with a lot of aerial play. You need a lot of concentration, a lot of presence on the second balls. We also made a lot of videos, to show them that you will have to be ready. We also know that it is a team that has flaws, some shortcomings, we must take advantage of them […] There will be spaces, we can score in game situations, on counterattacks, on set pieces. You will have to be ambitious in the game and not just watch them, defend and suffer. And then be mentally strong […] We play for our survival. So if you’re not mentally ready to go and play a match when you know that, in this match, you could find yourself 16th or 17th… We have this persistence to go for, it’s the first Source of motivation. »
A problematic calendar given its difficulty?
“ No, it’s the opposite. I adore […] Quite honestly, I prefer playing these matches than playing Metz, Le Havre or Lorient. You play with fear in your stomach, where you tell yourself that the slightest mistake has terrible consequences, preparing for the week is difficult […] We have the cards in hand and then you are going to play big matches. On the other hand, you have to raise your level of play, concentration, your mental level. […] When you are competitive, you want to play big matches […] We have everything to gain […] I try to give them the strength, the idea that it is doable. Maybe these are my character traits. The more complicated it is, the more I tell myself that it’s fantastic to find myself playing these matches, against these teams. And it’s playable, nothing is impossible. »
Photo Pierre Costabadie/Icon Sport
