At the Beaujoire stadium
24 shots, 19 chances, seven shots on target… “We entered the opposing area 38 times,” adds FC Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré, somewhat disillusioned. Yes, but there you go, opposite, there was a great goalkeeper from Angers this afternoon, in the person of Anthony Mandrea. In the first half, he multiplied the decisive parades. Twice at point-blank range against Blas, on a billiard shot from Coulibaly, deflecting a heavy shot from Kolo Muani… The SCO goalkeeper was everywhere today, saving the breasts on numerous occasions. “We came across a goalkeeper who practically stopped everything,” admits the FC Nantes coach. “When Antho (Mandrea) is at this level, it’s important for us. It was decisive today, ”adds Gérald Baticle, the Angevin technician. To disgust the Nantes attackers.
Angers folded but did not yield. A draw result (1-1) which creates “a lot of frustration” among the Yellows and Greens, who have nevertheless shown themselves to be enterprising. “Not able to be effective”, the FCN will have dominated this meeting from A to Z. “The goalkeeper in front made incredible stops. The more time passes, the more complicated it is mentally. And we came across a team that is playing its survival. He adds: “In football, the hardest thing is to score goals. But I really liked what we came up with.”
“I’m not thinking about the European Cup”
Result: the Canaries stagnate in the standings. After their draw in Brest, they now find themselves in 10th place in Ligue 1. And see the European wagon gaining speed… Without them. Six points from sixth place, Nantes may have missed a great opportunity to stay close to Europe. But on this point, Antoine Kombouaré quickly cuts all calculations: “It is you who are talking to me about the European Cup”, he launched at a press conference. “I just say you have to win the most matches. But we don’t choose a competition. The idea is to win to continue to keep this place in the top ten. On the other hand, we have a real chance in the Coupe de France. But I don’t think about the European Cup myself”.
If the way was there, the end result leaves something to be desired. And the regrets are there. But the Nantes coach prefers to “keep the positive” of this meeting. “If we keep playing like this, we will win games. The next one will be at the Vélodrome, this Wednesday against OM. It will, for sure, be another pair of sleeves.
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