Five small goals conceded in 2022 in 9 games. If FC Nantes is the third best formation in the championship at home and has been unbeatable for more than three months at La Beaujoire, its defense is no stranger to it. The change of system operated by the coach of the Canaries, Antoine Kombouaré, either. But when it comes to facing the reigning French champion, Lille, this Saturday evening, the question of keeping this system which has shown its flaws against Troyes deserves to be asked. Especially since the eight-time champion of France will be amputated by three defenders, including his manager Nicolas Pallois who, at 34, performs one of his best exercises in yellow and green. A puzzle. Really ?
Andrei Girotto, the natural replacement
He is the only Nantes field player to have been systematically established in Ligue 1 since the start of the season. First in the midfield alongside Pedro Chirivella before taking a step down to make up for the absences. Two seasons after having discovered a certain talent in this position, one of the good finds of Christian Gourcuff, Andrei Girotto should support Jean-Charles Castelletto. Author of 83 aerial duels won – he is third in this specific ranking– and 51 interceptions – one more than Pallois – the Brazilian is the natural replacement for number four in defense. A choice of circumstances that will have repercussions. “Obviously, the fact that Nicolas Pallois is absent, we will have to review our way of defendingLoose Kombouaré. It is the fate of all coaches who have important players who are absent. We will find the solutions. We will be able to make up for this absence.”
We lived this kind of great emotions, I expected a small drop in speed. It happens.
In Troyes, the Blas gang flouted his football. “It’s because we didn’t defend togetherretorts the Kanak. It’s a question of “team block”, which allows us to better recover the balls and use them. There wasn’t just a lack of distance, he also lacked commitment, determination in the impact, in the duels. I would have liked to see my team stay at the level we had in February. But when we experienced this kind of great emotions, I expected a small drop in speed. It happens.” Especially outside. The tactical choice to keep a defense with five elements would therefore be foreign to this setback.
Bukari in right piston, a repeat of the shock against Paris?
In addition to that of Pallois, the cumulative absences of Sébastien Corchia and Charles Traoré, however, change the situation. On the bench, the possibilities are not legion. Alone Fabio, barely recovered from his sprained ankleand the young Abdoulaye Sylla who had a difficult first against OGC Nice on January 14, are applying for a place in a rear guard made up of three players.
When the coach told me that I was going to start right piston, I had no doubts.
Unless Antoine Kombouaré recycles the idea of place Osman Bukari in a right piston role, a conclusive idea against the Parisian leader. “At Gantoise, I was already playing in this position but on the left sidesays the main interested party, on loan from the Belgian club. When the coach told me that I was going to start in this role, I had no doubts. He told me that I had to multiply the races, make a lot of effort. It wasn’t really any different for me. Despite everything, I prefer to have a more offensive role.”
“In these cases, you have to adaptreleased Alban Lafont in the corridors of the Aube stadium. There are players who are there and who will show their full potential. It’s the right time for them” Almost word for word the message of Antoine Kombouaré to his proteges. “We have confidence in this group and in the boys who will be present“, assures the one for whom the key to the match will above all be freshness against Lille who have just come out of elimination in the Champions League. “And then between Jean-Charles, Andrei who has been training well since Thursday, Quentin and Dennis, we have plenty to do in defensereassures Osman Bukari. It will allow us to be solid in this sector.” In the opposite case, a change of system cannot be ruled out. Antoine Kombouaré has already shown that he is capable of it.