Scorer in the game and during the penalty shootout on Saturday against Corte (1-1 + 3-5 tab), Tanguy Ndombele was one of the major players in the Gym's qualification for the round of 16 of the French Cup. The Nice midfielder stopped in the mixed zone after the match.
Tanguy, the match was difficult but you managed to come away with the qualification…
We came to win. No matter the way, the most important thing is to leave with the qualification. I think we could have done a little better. The conditions were difficult, the match scenario was complicated. Just before the holidays, it will do us good.
Do you have the feeling that you have complicated your life alone, especially with this missed penalty?
The penalty can happen. Everyone can miss it, we won't blame Sofiane (Diop). On the red card, I think Yaël (Nandjou) lacks control. He is young, he will learn over time. It's something that needs to be erased, we've made a lot of mistakes since the start of the season. Hoping to be able to do better in 2025.
From a personal point of view, we felt you were very determined. You went to provoke the penalty after 3 minutes, you wanted to go for qualification…
The whole team wanted it. Personally, I always want to play. We knew it would be difficult even if it was against a team that plays in a league lower than us. We know that we have to put more than what we usually put into this type of match, it's not the same weapons that we have to use. I think we responded, even at 10. We're going to remember that, it's the most important thing.
This second part of the season is tempting. For Europe, it seems complicated, but you are in the game in Ligue 1, there is always this Coupe de France… Looking forward to 2025?
For the Cup, you have to take match by match and see how it will go. We remain competitors, everyone wants to win. But you have to be realistic and take the matches one after the other. In the championship, we are there, we are well placed. I hope good things await us after the break.
On a personal level, if you had to take stock of the first part of the season, what would you say?
I think I played more than I should have played. But I grit my teeth, it's part of the job. We try to do the maximum. The break will be good, rest is important from time to time for a player. In the league, we're not too bad even if we've had a lot of injuries. I think that players will come back quickly and that will do us all good.
Concerning your football level, are you happy with what you have shown so far? There were doubts when you arrived…
There were a lot of doubts but that's how it is when you don't play for a long time, you are forgotten. I'm eternally dissatisfied so I think I haven't given my all yet. I can do better during the second part of the season.
