FC Nantes coach Christian Gourcuff, here during the match against Dijon in December 2019 at La Beaujoire. - SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS / SIPA

Seven minutes and then leaves. Wednesday, Christian Gourcuff did not hang out at a press conference. Two days before the derby against Stade Rennais, the FC Nantes coach undoubtedly wanted to save himself from too many questions on his passage on the red and black bench. "I will not talk about Rennes," he cut, in response to a question from a journalist about the crazy match Tuesday night between the SCO Angers and Stade Rennais (4-5). He did the same in September during the first leg.

Sacked upon the arrival of President Olivier Létang in the fall of 2017, Christian Gourcuff will return to Roazhon Park for the first time Friday evening (8:45 p.m.) but this time will sit on the visitors' bench. A club he coached twice in 2001-2002 and 2016-2017 and where his son Yoann was revealed. But especially a club that fired him twice when he promised to give him time. In a scathing interview with Le Télégramme last year, the former Lorient coach said. "I experience this as betrayal. It's worse than a regret, it's hate! ".

We will clearly face Rennes in very very big confidence as evidenced by their match this evening. But it would be very ironic for Gourcuff so criticized in Rennes to find the fault. #FCNantes

- Maxime ThoBlas (@ mthomas44230) January 28, 2020

Wednesday, he briefly answered a few questions about the state of form of Rennes, ensuring that they had sufficient staff to "turn" and digest the extension of Tuesday's game against Angers. "It's a good team that is in a period of confidence," explained the Breton, while ensuring that he focused on his players: "The main thing is already to analyze the shortcomings that we posted on Sunday for remediate ".

Without Pallois or Girotto

On Sunday, his players displayed a pale face in the Atlantic derby lost 1-0 to Bordeaux. Without Pallois or Girotto, the Nantes will have to contend with a new central hinge on Friday against the current 3rd in Ligue 1. On the outward leg, the Canaries won 1-0 on a penalty scored by Abdoulaye Touré. We imagine that the Rennes want their revenge.

Sport

FC Nantes: The Nantes transfer window already finished? Gourcuff suggests it ...

Sport

Stade Rennais: "This perfect gesture" ... Announced at the start, Jérémy Gélin heals his return

  • Rennais Stadium
  • Nantes
  • Soccer
  • Sport
  • Rennes
  • FC Nantes