Expected at 5 p.m., the players arrived at Place Foch two hours late, without dampening the enthusiasm of the fans.

"We did the job on the pitch, you did the job in the stands", greeted defender Nicolas Pallois from a bus in the club's colors, to the cries of joy from the people of Nantes.

According to the town hall, at least 15,000 supporters had come to welcome the players, brandishing scarves, flags and “Thank you” signs.

“We have had so many disappointments in recent years, and there it is, our heroes have finally brought back the cup”, rejoiced Armand Bely, 35, freshly returned from the Stade de France, proudly showing his flocked jersey “ Ludovic Blas", captain and author of the penalty which gave the victory to the team.

FC Nantes supporters who came to attend the presentation of the Coupe de France trophy by the players, on May 8, 2022 in Nantes Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP

The Nantes residents won the fourth French Cup in their history on Saturday, beating favorite Nice (1-0) in the final.

They had been waiting to win a trophy since 2001, when they were crowned in Division 1, and had not won the Coupe de France since 2000.

"The last time I was a young man", smiled in the crowd Bruno Seguin, 67, "including 50 from Beaujoire", camera in hand.

Long applauded, the coach of the Canaries, Antoine Kombouaré, thanked the Nantes supporters for their "unfailing support".

"If we do great and beautiful things it's thanks to you," he added, moved, at the microphone.

After chanting the names of the players one by one, the supporters sang a tribute song to Emiliano Sala, former FC Nantes striker who died in a plane crash in 2019.

Behind the yellow and green bus, the ultras of the Loire Brigade, hostile to the president of the club Waldemar Kita, had unrolled a large banner on which was inscribed "support for those who work to give us back FC Nantes".

The Nantes residents Ludovic Blas (g) and Quentin Merlin (d) with the Coupe de France presented to their supporters, May 8, 2022 in Nantes Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP

The club owner, angry with the municipal team since the abandonment in 2019 of the Yellowpark stadium project, did not attend the presentation of the trophy.

The Canaries were briefly received at the town hall at the end of the afternoon.

"Thank you for the pride you have given us," said Ali Rebouh, deputy in charge of sports.

The mayor of Nantes, Johanna Rolland, suffering from Covid-19, was not present.

© 2022 AFP