From our journalist at the Beaujoire stadium,
” It is fabulous. These are crazy emotions. Congratulations to the players, congratulations to this public who pushes us to do exploits. There are no words…” Antoine Kombouaré, the Nantes coach, had trouble hiding his emotion on Wednesday evening. Victorious 1-0 against Olympique Lyonnais, FC Nantes did the unthinkable: qualify for the second consecutive year in the final of the Coupe de France. A final that Nantes had won last year at the Stade de France (1-0 against Nice) and that they will play again on April 29 against Toulouse or Annecy.
“The Coupe de France, our journey in the European Cup… It’s wonderful what’s been happening to us for two seasons, adds Antoine Kombouaré. We try to savor each time, we tell ourselves that it will stop. But no, we’re still here. My players surprise me all the time. I hope they will surprise me again at the Stade de France. Now, we must go to the end for sure. A feat all the more unexpected as the FCN is struggling in the league and can fear a descent into Ligue 2 (only four points ahead of the first relegation). Euphoric and amazed, the Nantes public exploded with joy at the final whistle, invading the lawn to celebrate their heroes for long minutes.
“This team has two faces”
Ludovic Blas, the striker of the evening, author of a fabulous chest-volley sequence to beat Anthony Lopes, savors. ” We did it ! It’s beautiful. Since I have been here, I have experienced incredible emotions. It’s hard to realize because it’s huge. President Waldemar Kita, too, does not sulk his pleasure. “We are very satisfied, for the club, for the public. This team has two faces. We manage to transcend ourselves in cut. It is difficult to explain. Maybe it’s a question of motivation, maybe the coach’s words or mine. »
After having taken out Lens in the quarters, then Lyon in the half, Nantes now almost naturally takes on the costume of favorite for the final victory, as its future opponent seems within its reach. A trap ? “I don’t plan, it’s so far, calm Antoine Kombouaré. We are back in the championship this weekend against Monaco and I don’t want to resume as against Reims. We have to look for extremely important points for maintenance. »
Ironically, FC Nantes already achieved this double in the Coupe de France at the end of the 1990s with two successes in quick succession (against Sedan 1999 and Calais in 2000) at the Stade de France. The generation then was called Monterrubio, Carrière, Vahirua, Fabbri and others and had continued with the championship title in 2001. Not sure that the current workforce, less talented and promised to a probable dismantling this summer, knows the same spell.