Laid off Tuesday, Ahmed Kantari was not on the VAFC bench for the first time since December 2023 during the victory against Neuilly-sur-Marne (4-3) in the 8th round of the Coupe de France, this Saturday. A sidelining which marked the group and the Valencian staff.
A difficult pill to swallow for the group
A new era is beginning at the VAFC. If it was eagerly awaited by the Valenciennes supporters, who had reached a point of no return with the results and the communication ofAhmed Kantariplayers and staff members welcomed the Moroccan's ouster with much more bitterness. “ We are eighth. The fans' reactions were certainly impatient. We accept, but we are all responsible », posed to our microphone a Stéphane Mangione « very marked ».
Kantari's former assistant, to whom he was very close, who became interim coach while awaiting the appointment of a new technician, assures that it was “ very difficult to see him leave », his tone serious and his expression low. Daouda Traorewho learned the news on Tuesday on social networks after Ahmed Kantari took charge of the day's training, is pulling in the same direction. “ As soon as we learned that the coach was fired, it was very complicatedthe mid-18 year old recalled. We are back to work, it continues and we will try to do a lot more. It will do it, I hope. »
Not necessarily a surprise
However, was it surprising to see the ax fall for a coach on a worrying dynamic of one victory in the last ten league matches? “ We weren't necessarily surprised, we felt it comingassumed the former Nice resident. It's Football. When there are no results, this is what happens. We move forward. »
« Mentally, it's hard, especially knowing the coach wellhe regretted Aymen Boutoutaouwho worked with him from the reserve team. I've known him and worked with him for quite a few years. But it's football, you have to move on quickly. Football is not over, we continue, we still want to play the climb and we will never give up. » An objective which, if achieved, would, according to Boutoutaou, “ also crazy good » to Ahmed Kantari, who “ did his job », « loved us and was fully behind us ».
And now, what next for the VAFC?
The opposite was also true, according to the players. Everyone assures us: there was no disunity between the group and Ahmed Kantariwhile his message seemed to come across less well from the outside. “ We are the ones primarily responsible, we are the ones who play on the field », recalled Daouda Traoré, when Aymen Boutaou also felt “ A little ” responsible : ” We know that the coach took everything on himself, but we know that we are responsible. We have no choice but to catch up ».
It will therefore be under the leadership of Stéphane Mangione, at least in the short term. Asked about his current role and a possible possibility of continuing the adventure over several weeks, or even more, the interim coach, not very fond of the number one position, hammered home the fact that he was “ available to the club “. For their part, the players all came together to put things straight, to tell each other the four truths, “ pull yourself together and not give up », recounted Aymen Boutoutaou. Before concluding: “ The staff had done their job, it's up to us to work now ».
Enzo PAILOT, in Valenciennes
Photo credits: Herve Bellenger/Icon Sport
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