Nuno Da Costa was the guest this Thursday of 100% Stade Malherbe, your daily show devoted to the Rouge et Bleu. The SM Caen striker discussed his career and his season
Cape Verde and the selection of Blue Sharks
Nuno Da Costa was born thirty years ago in Cape Verde. This 4000 km2 archipelago off the coast of Africa and with half a million inhabitants is a major supplier of footballers.
“It’s true that there have been quite a few, especially since they often opt to play for Portugal. It’s a small country but there is talent.” The Blue Sharks are qualified for the next CAN but Nuno Da Costa has not made it to the selection for three years.
“I quit by personal choice. It was a bit complicated at the time with the president of the Fédé at the time. It was complicated between the hours of flights, to chain the matches there and the continue here. There are certain moments in your career where you have to prioritize and I made the choice of the club. “ And could he return to selection? “Not this year, considers the Caennais striker. I do not think so.”
The discovery in Valenciennes, the explosion in Strasbourg
It was in Valenciennes that Nuno Da Costa signed his first professional contract and revealed himself in Ligue 2. But it was in Strasbourg that he was going to have his best season in Ligue 1 in 2018-2019 (eight goals and five assists).
“It is a historic club. I think there are few clubs like that in France. You have Racing and Lens which generate a certain enthusiasm. It is a city which lives Football and I think that it is. is one of my best years. It is in any case the only club where I managed to steal a Trophy (Coupe de la Ligue 2019). “
His arrival in Caen
Arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest at the end of the transfer window injured, Nuno Da Costa only played his sixth game in Auxerre (2-2).
“The injuries unfortunately slowed down the adaptation a little, whether at the tactical level or in the installation within the team. Today we are playing with a system where I find myself a little more.
Now is the time to perform and chain matches. I was looking more for confidence in my sensations, my ball grips and my way of chaining. Goals, when you feel good and confident come on their own. I used to have times when I wasn’t scoring and when it came it came suddenly.
I have to be impatient. When you arrive injured and drag the wound etc … you are bound to be impatient. Hunger, as an attacker, if you don’t have it anymore you have to stop playing so I will always have it as a player. I think it’s mostly about impatience and the desire to prove. “
A loan in Caen … and more so?
“Yes, why not, if all the ingredients are right. Being lugged around from right to left is fun for anyone (laughs). On the one hand, I like the city and things are going pretty well with the club. president and the coach are people with whom I get along very well so why not?
It’s a fairly structured club. Today, the working conditions at the club are optimal to bring Stade Malherbe back to where I think it should be. I like challenges. Strasbourg was a club where we knew that there would be difficulties for the maintenance. I accepted the challenge and it went pretty well so I don’t see why here it wouldn’t go well if it ever happened. “
But Nuno Da Costa would also not be opposed to a return to England at Nottingham Forest. “I wouldn’t mind. I know that there was another change of coach (Steve Cooper) after my departure. We didn’t have the opportunity to talk to each other but his philosophy tends more towards I expected from my profile. Why not? Competition is something that does not scare me. I know that there are experienced forwards and inevitably I have – I think – the advantage of being a little younger than them. “