Directly involved in AS Monaco’s second goal, Anthony Lopes has reason to be angry after the draw (2-2) conceded on Friday. The FC Nantes goalkeeper can still count on the support of coach Antoine Kombouaré, ready to blame another player to defend the former Lyonnais.
For his first match at Beaujoire, Anthony Lopes did not make a good impression in front of his new audience. The FC Nantes goalkeeper was guilty of a big mistake on AS Monaco’s second goal scored by Mohammed Salisu. His poor exit from Lamine Camara’s corner allowed the central defender to score quietly. If his predecessor Alban Lafont had made the same mistake, we can think that Antoine Kombouaré would not have hesitated to overwhelm him. But the Canaries coach did everything to protect his winter recruit, even going so far as to blame his defender Nathan Zézé.
Kombouaré defends Lopes
« You sometimes screw up when you play all the time, even if you’re very good. Antho, what he has shown in the last two matches is very interestingreacted the Kanak. On the exit where he misses, we can also defend. If your defender is marking and wins his aerial duel, you can also not concede a goal. This is more than positive both in terms of performance and leadership. It gives confidence. He brings a lot. Before signing, I didn’t even ask myself the question. I told him: “You come and you start in Lille.” I had no doubts about the quality of the goalkeeper. »
Despite his coach’s protective speech, Anthony Lopes knows that his mistake is costly. The former Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper assumed his responsibilities in the mixed zone. “ I’m frustrated, my race is not good. I know it’s times like this where the seven months without competition were lacking. I don’t worry. (…) At our station, as soon as we make a mistake, we pay for it in cash. I saw others. I must not doubt because people are counting on me, and so am I », Positively said the Nantes resident.
