Charles Guyard / Photo credit: SEBASTIEN SALOM-GOMIS / AFP
After narrowly saving their skin in Ligue 1 last spring, FC Nantes will have to compose for this new season without Ludovic Blas and Andrei Girotto. The Canaries do not want to relive the past scenario and hope this time to stay in Ligue 1 in a more serene way.
D-5 before the resumption of Ligue 1. After narrowly saving its skin in Ligue 1 last spring, FC Nantes is preparing to face Toulouse for its first competitive match. For this new season, the club intends to remain in Ligue 1 but this time, in a more serene way.
Ludovic Blas and Andrei Girotto no longer in the ranks
“I’m happy to have you back for this new season. Back to school went perfectly under a beautiful sun,” the coach told his players. The beautiful sun which indeed accompanied the Canaries for their recovery on July 6 was slightly eclipsed thereafter and not only because of terrible weather or the death this summer of Robert Budzynski, emblematic figure of the institution. A month later, coach Pierre Aristouy finds himself with his two best elements left, Ludovic Blas and Andrei Girotto, without necessarily having found replacements of the same standing.
“It’s a moment that must generate additional strength”
As for the campaign of friendly matches, with only one victory in five matches, this proved to be more than sluggish, perhaps like the end of last season, during which FC Nantes flirted with relegation. A fear on which the coach intends to capitalize. “It would have ended badly, it would have been catastrophic and in the end, it’s a moment that must generate additional strength for these players,” said the coach.
Players who will now be able to focus solely on the championship, at least until the Coupe de France, with the aim of ensuring maintenance, if possible before the final day. Until then, there will be no European getaway to increase the schedule. That of FC Nantes had also been the busiest in Ligue 1 last season, with a total of 52 matches played in all competitions.