FC Nantes shines once again on a European scale. The club’s youngsters qualified for the Final Four of the Youth League. They will compete from April 19 to 22, in Nyon (Switzerland), after winning against Copenhagen (3-3, 5-4 at TAB), during the quarter-finals, this Tuesday, March 12.
Enzo Mongo, Nantes central defender and captain: ” It is magic. we went for this victory in the guts. We come back to the score at 3-3 to win this penalty shootout and win this match. All the adversaries had their strengths. Against this opponent we had to use our experience from other matches.
We ignite the match a little by scoring directly. It was kind of our plan to score early. We didn’t expect to get a backlash like that, we had to stay together and tell ourselves that there was room to turn things around once again. And also, there was the cardboard. We knew there would be ten of them and the coach told us that they wouldn’t be able to put in as much effort as us as we were one more. It worked.
We try to make the difference before, during regulation time, as always. Afterwards, if it goes to penalties to force the decision…”
Tom Mabon, Nantes goalkeeper: ” It’s incredible. An indescribable feeling. Every time we say to ourselves that we won’t experience that again and then what if… It’s incredible to qualify in front of a burning stadium, it’s just fun, pure happiness! We’re enjoying it to the max this evening. It’s historic, for all French clubs and especially FC Nantes. It’s indescribable. Hot like that, I have no words to describe what it feels like, it’s incredible. We savor.
The guys worked hard to get back into the lead. This is my role and I try to do the best I can.
It was very complicated at the start but we were able to show character to come back to the score and it did it. We have confidence in ourselves, we know what we are capable of and above all we have not given up. We never give up. And playing here, it sure changes but it feels good, especially when we have an audience like that with us. It is happiness. It’s galvanizing, it’s incredible.
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On the penalty shootout, honestly, I try not to think about anything. I tell myself that it’s a penalty like any other so as not to put pressure on myself. And I know it’s a technical move for the attacker too. A well-taken penalty is a scored penalty. I try to get into it, do little feints without throwing myself. I dive in at the last moment and pull it out… it’s incredible! The guys worked hard to get back into the lead. This is my role and I try to do the best I can. »
Louis Leroux, Nantes midfielder: “It was crazy. We managed to turn the match around after a crazy scenario. We won the penalty shootout. I think that being at Beaujoire gave us the strength to win the qualifier.
We exude real collective strength. We are like a family, we fight for each other, no matter the situation. We make efforts until the end. It’s been paying off since the final stages of the championship last year. It’s a big collective force. We started the competition with little experience. But as the matches progressed, we matured, we learned from our mistakes… Now, we are a united group. We can’t yet imagine what we’re doing. But we’re happy, the people around us tell us it’s crazy and beautiful.
Without the supporters, I think it was impossible to do what we did. As a supporter since I was little, it was a dream to come here
For a long time, I haven’t taken a penalty, I didn’t want to. In Gambardella, we got eliminated, and I think I should have shot. Inside I was thinking why I didn’t go. This was the opportunity to go. And the guys were telling me I was shooting well in practice. I hit it right in the middle, hard. I was relieved, because I had the pressure before going there. Then Tom is the penalty shootout specialist. So I knew we were going to get through this and be able to come back.
It was crazy. Without the supporters, I think it was impossible to do what we did. As a supporter since I was little, it was a dream to come here… in front of so many supporters. We are very happy to do this at La Beaujoire. I didn’t really want to take that penalty, so I’m not sure I dreamed of it (laughs). But scoring at Beaujoire, I dreamed of it. »