Never in the history of FC Nantes, even during the two seasons of 2006 and 2008, synonymous with relegations, have the Canaries' results been as mediocre as those produced over the past year at home: two wins, three draws and 11 defeats. Against Le Havre on Sunday (5 p.m.), the Nantais already have almost no room for error and their technician Antoine Kombouaré even less.
At home this season, FC Nantes has only won once. It was against Auxerre (2-0), a promoted team, on August 25. For three months, the Canaries have suffered a defeat against Reims (2-1), two draws against Saint-Étienne (2-2) and Nice (1-1), and a new defeat there three weeks against Marseille (2-1). Five points in five games at home, a poor record despite the consistency of scoring at least one goal in each game.
“We are in a complicated series,” said Antoine Kombouaré, this Friday, 48 hours before hosting Le Havre (Sunday 5 p.m.). “We are not happy with our work and what we are doing at Beaujoire. There are a lot of matches where we let points slip away. We often took the advantage without being able to keep the score. You can't have a good championship without being sovereign at home.” Thursday, due to the storm but also to try to become one with their stadium, the Yellow and Green trained at La Beaujoire.
Two victories in one year
Statistics which are not new at home for the people of Nantes. For a year and a 0-0 draw against Le Havre, which cost Pierre Aristouy his place, the Canaries have only managed to win twice, against Nice on December 2, 2023 then led by Jocelyn Gourvennec and therefore Auxerre this season with Kanak.
A victory which allowed Nantes to end a historic series of nine consecutive defeats at home in the league and one in the Coupe de France against Laval, residents of Ligue 2.
Kombouaré wants to “change gear”
Unless there is a surge on Sunday, the place of Kombouaré, who has a little less than two years of contract remaining, does not yet seem in danger. But some do not forget that during his first stint as coach, a series of 11 games without a win cost him his job at the beginning of May 2023. The Nantes residents, again in an ongoing series of eight games without a win since August 31 , will go to Paris next week before receiving Rennes and traveling to Brest for the last day before the break.
A tough program which will have to be accompanied by points from Sunday to extend the coach's stay on the banks of the Erdre. “We switched to the idea that now we are playing to maintain,” continues the coach. “We are aware of it. We have to change gear.” For this crucial meeting, Kombouaré will be able to count on the return of a key player, Johann Lepenant, injured in the calf during the last three matches. Since the start of the season, with the player on loan from Lyon starting, FC Nantes has only lost once. Finally some positive news for the Canaries.
