He may be preparing to play in the round of 16 of the European Cup for the first time in his career, the captain of FC Nantes did not watch the draw, carried out this Monday afternoon at the headquarters of the UEFA, live. “A friend sent me a message“, blows Alban Lafont. Smiling, happy to have pulled a very big one from Europa with Juventus Turin
the Canaries goalkeeper nevertheless wants keep your feet on the ground before the double confrontation which will take place on February 16 and 23. Maintenance.
Juventus Stadium “not as hot as Beaujoire”
How do you feel after this round of 16 draw?
It’s great, it’s exceptional for us. With the qualification that we obtained, we only expected to shoot a big one even if there were only big teams. But of pulling Juventus from Turin with all the history behind it is all the more exciting and we want to play matches like that.
You have to be mentally ready to suffer together and why not achieve a feat, in any case we will go there in this perspective.
What memories do you keep of the matches played with your former club, Fiorentina, against the Turinese?
It’s one of the best teams in the world with an incredible track record. It’s an exceptional club with everything it exudes around it, the notoriety of the players, the experience, it’s the European top. It is necessarily exceptional. The low, I know Dušan Vlahović and Federico Chiesa with whom I evolved at Fiorentina. It’s going to be a special reunion in a very nice stadium, with a very good atmosphere. It’s a hot stadium, they have supporters who put a lot of energy into it, but it’s not as hot as La Beaujoire.
However, you speak of this draw with some measure. Why ?
I am measured because it remains a football team. You have to stay calm, prepare well for the match. You don’t have to go on board. We want to win this confrontation. You have to be mentally ready to suffer together and why not achieve a feat, in any case we will go there in this perspective.
Do you consider these two upcoming meetings to be the most important since the start of your career?
This is going to be one of the most important confrontations of my career because it is the European top. Of course, it’s very important to me. It is also a discovery for many players but it is necessary play these two matches to the fullest because maybe there won’t be any more afterwards.
Do you consider it an advantage to receive Juventus Turin in the second leg?
It’s good to have the return to Beaujoire. But if we miss the first leg, it will be difficult for La Beaujoire to win. Both matches are going to be super important. You have to make a result there and do a feat at la Beaujoire as we like to do.
Were you told about the last confrontation between Nantes and Juventus, in the semi-final of the 1996 Champions League?
I looked at that for a bit, it came out with the draw. Some people talk about revenge even if it’s not recent.