Nantes start their Ligue 1 season against Angers with several uncertainties
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The time was not right to talk about the transfer window, and Antoine Kombouaré sent back to the ropes all those who dared to question him on the subject: “I have a match to prepare, insisted the Nantes coach. Stop talking to me about departures. Today, the players are there. » With the exception of Jean-Charles Castelletto, suspended following his expulsion against PSG (0-4) during the Champions Trophy last Sunday, the FCN will present this afternoon in Angers with a full group.
Quentin Merlin is available again after being saved in Tel Aviv due to thigh discomfort. The possible starters – Alban Lafont, Ludovic Blas and Moses Simon – will also be there, even if the question of their future will inexorably come up.
At time T, Kombouaré did not “no complaints”. He considers his workforce sufficiently equipped to carry out “a solid month of August”, which does not save him from a few questions: the FCN, 9th in L1 last year and outgoing winner of the Coupe de France, will he be able to do as well? How will his team manage to juggle between the Championship and the Europa League when the season promises to be particularly perilous with four runs and a one-month break between mid-November and mid-December?
“I ask myself the same questions as you” replies the Nantes coach. Neither the preparation matches (two wins, two losses) nor the big defeat conceded against PSG raised questions about the level of this team.
Three recruits: Sissoko, Guessand, Mohamed
Among the departures recorded this summer, Nantes lost only one indisputable holder but it was not just anyone: Randal Kolo Muani, 12 goals last year. With Moussa SissokoEvann Guessand and Mostafa Mohamed, the job has been done to strengthen the eleven but they will probably need a little time to acclimatize while FCN has scored only four goals in as many friendly matches.
Mostafa Mohamed (3rd from left), Moussa Sissoko and Evann Guessand made their Nantes debuts last Sunday against PSG. (S. Mantey/The Team)
“I usually wait for the first 4-5 matches to get an idea of the value of the group”, reminded Kombouaré again, setting the course to take against the SCO: “We want to start strong. »
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