The Nantes coach takes stock on the eve of the Europa League return play-off against Juve on Thursday (6:45 p.m.).
The qualification : «Imperative victory? Yes, we can also draw and go to penalties… We are prepared for this match. In any case, we gave ourselves the right to dream. We did everything to ensure that there was a stake in this return match. But the hardest part remains to be done. How to beat this Juventus team tomorrow? We are going to train today, go green and calmly prepare for this meeting. But there is great motivation to break the statistics that Nantes has never eliminated an Italian team.»
One in ten chance before going : «And now ? Two out of ten chances! But it’s still tiny… When you know the Juventus team, their coach Max Allegri. As he said on the first leg, the shortest way to go to the Champions League is to win the Europa League. So I expect a very difficult game!»
Juventus more aggressive : «In the first leg, I had already found Juventus very aggressive in fact, very enterprising, they had a lot of situations. We defended well… even if we had some success.»
Angel DiMaria : «He had been very good going. It is he who is at the origin of the goal of Juventus, he was everywhere! For me, he was the best player of the 22… I hope he won’t be as good this time (smile).»
Simon, Delort and Ganago as reinforcements : «It is clear that their return gives more possibilities. It is therefore possible to see a change in terms of the organization. But whether they start the match in the 11 or on the bench, we will have more forces, more possibilities to hurt this defense. That’s what I hope. To win, you have to score. And with attackers in number but especially in quality, it is a plus.»
If the players are able to repeat the feat, we can go down in legend, it will be immense.
Antoine Kombaoure
FC Nantes undefeated in knockout match with Kombouaré : «A date team? It seems that yes. This is the strength of this group, knowing how to be present at major events. It has been the case in the past, I hope it will be again, knowing that the opponent is not the same, the competition is also different. We play the ogre! We never thought we would face this team, a club that is used to making the Champions League. We expect something big tomorrow. But if the players are able to repeat the feat, we can go down in legend, it will be immense.»
The psychologically harder return after the positive result on the way : «It can’t be a problem because I live with the group every day. We have time to discuss, to work. What I like is that there is a lot of serenity, of tranquility in this group. Tomorrow is an important event for the club, the supporters and us too. But I see quiet players. We are ready for the event. We do our job. We are aware that we are capable, even if I do not say that we are going to do it. There is what the fans think, and if they have excited like everything, so much the better, but in our work there is a lot of tranquility and serenity.»
The fire (in the stands), yes, but in a figurative sense…
Antoine Kombouare
The enthusiasm of the supporters : «It does not surprise me. When I see what we have experienced together since my arrival last year, with crazy matches, very strong emotions, I think of the matches against PSG, Lens, Bordeaux, the Coupe de France semi-final against Monaco and the final at the Stade de France against Nice… It’s a continuation of what we’re going through. I know the enthusiasm there is around this club. It’s a fair reward for what we are going through with matches that are rising crescendo. Now we have to stay calm, prepare for the match calmly. I have a message for the supporters: that there is a terrible fervor, a motivation from everyone to try to beat Juventus, but you have to be careful, not to be stupid, you can penalize the team and the fans. in view of the 8th finals if we pass. (…) Fire, yes, but in the figurative sense, not proper. We were in Turin last week, there was a great atmosphere… We didn’t have to do fireworks. Against Olympiakos, I had never seen that. However, I’ve been in the stadiums for some time… Between the smoke bombs, the fireworks, even the agricultural bombs… Oh no, it was in Montpellier. But when you’re under suspension, you have to be careful. There are other ways to set the mood. Above all, do not penalize yourself. You never know: even if you only have two chances out of 10, you never know…»
A bonus in case of qualification : «I don’t know. It’s a great match especially for Juventus, not for us! If Juve loses against us, they are ridiculous, whereas if we lose, we play the maintenance in Ligue 1 and our quarter-final of the Coupe de France against Lens.»
Didier Deschamps at Beaujoire : «We never talk about football with Didier. We are talking about the family… We will be happy to see each other but he is old enough to know which players to select. Above all, the players who can go to the France team know that they must be very good at club level. Alban Lafont belongs to this category? For me, it is very good, it is even the best! Afterwards, Didier will make his choice, he’s a big boy.»
Ludovic Blas : «Of course it will take a great Ludovic Blas, but not only. All his teammates will have to be decisive. Even defensively. We will need a great Alban (Lafont). It’s Juve. In front, there is Vlahovic, Chiesa, Di Maria, Kean… Great attackers. We need to have all the players in top form, we will have to play a great game. I had said that to hope to pass, it would be necessary to make two exploits. We made one. The hardest part is tomorrow!»
We know it will be complicated, that they are arch-favorites, but the beauty of football is that anything is possible.
Antoine Kombouare
His discovery of this level of competition : «I live it well. It’s a great gift, but a gift we gave ourselves to get to this stage of the competition. I always start from the principle that a cup match is very special because you have to be present on D-Day. In the past, even if it’s still recent, we did it. Tomorrow is another opportunity for us to show what we are capable of. These are always challenges. As far as I’m concerned, we’re discovering these round of 16 second legs, against a prestigious club with Juventus, we know it will be complicated, that they are arch-favourites, but the beauty of football is that everything is possible. We have already demonstrated it. When we arrived, we were 19th, we were perhaps going to go to Ligue 2, and a year later, we won the Coupe de France, we took part in the European Cup… No one saw us pass the chickens, but we finishes ahead of Olympiakos, Karabagh, prestigious clubs in this competition. And we continue to climb the ladder. Tomorrow, we don’t know. But I trust my players. I know they are capable of doing it. After that, doing it is something else…»
The recipe against Juve : «The shots on goal? I only think about having a great game. Afterwards, we’ll see… You have to answer this and we’ll see. We are ready for this big meeting.»
Statements taken at a press conference
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