The Nantes, here after the goal of Anthony Limbombe, showed Marseille a face very different from that displayed at the Beaujoire against Metz. - AFP

  • FC Nantes players recognize that a surplus of motivation allowed them to beat Marseille (1-3), a week after a pitiful draw against Metz (0-0).
  • Their trainer Christian Gourcuff also evokes, by way of explanation, a relevant tactic ... And a superb lawn at the Vélodrome.

Christian Gourcuff does not have the easy compliment. But this Saturday, at the Vélodrome, the austere Breton coach wanted to congratulate his players. This victory against OM (1-3) is according to him "our biggest performance since the start of the season, because we control the game from start to finish. It is a great satisfaction. A brushstroke to shine after his rant last Saturday.

His Canaries, apathetic and clumsy against Metz (0-0), were this Saturday motivated and killer. "It may be our best match," smiles midfielder Mehdi Abeid. "This match was a little better (sic) than the one against Nice (1-0, in October), which was our benchmark so far," confirms defender Dennis Appiah. But why ? We have found three explanations (which rhyme).

Extra motivation

"Do you choose your matches? The question made the affable Dennis Appiah smile, who first answered in the negative, before admitting that "we try to sublimate ourselves on these games, we try to be there. So you choose them, Dennis? "I don't like to say that, but it's easier to be focused on those games than others. "Andrei Girotto also admits that" playing in front of 60,000 people is good and motivates to play at the highest level. "

"Very impressed by the Bambanera of Marseille lol" pic.twitter.com/TJ2SPuNDAH

- Michel Kerzadarian (@KerZadarian) February 22, 2020

Their coach, Christian Gourcuff, had already identified this phenomenon. His team has always, this season, raised their level of play against the "big guys" in the championship, without necessarily winning. "When you move to Marseille, it's something else in terms of concentration and investment," he admits. But it's true for all the teams… And not all of them won here! »Indeed: only Reims won at the Vélodrome this season. This explanation is therefore not sufficient.

A game plan with little onions

"We have a much larger workforce than a few weeks ago, it makes us more competitive": Christian Gourcuff puts his role in this victory against OM into perspective. The return to the top level of Nicolas Pallois (who had resumed against Metz after a month and a half of absence) and the fact that Anthony Limbombe is finally in great shape are, for sure, factors that explain this victory. But Gourcuff, who had chosen to put his captain Abdoulaye Touré on the bench, also made a nice tactical move at the Vélodrome.

🎙️Christian Gourcuff: "It is a built victory, it is the big satisfaction this evening. The possession was not insolent but we did what we wanted to do. We deprived them of solutions. It is great satisfaction to have presented this face! "
#OMFCN pic.twitter.com/Gt9iDGDY4E

- FC Nantes (@FCNantes) February 22, 2020

"The coach worked well, he put the right players to put Marseille in trouble," laughs the good client Dennis Appiah. We let it develop on the game system:

“Marseille likes to use the width, the sides are very high. So at the loss of the ball, even if they come back quickly, if we managed to fix them two three times in the axis and after going to the sides, we had enough to eat (smile). We did a lot of work on the returns and then they had less juice to attack. And we have finished our actions! "

Author of a magnificent goal, Kader Bamba confirms “that the system with two lines of four and the two in front has worked well. "The Marseilles open house operation helped a lot, as Mehdi Abeid says:" Metz, I'm not saying they were swinging all the time, but they like to play a direct game. It was more difficult to lay down our game. Marseille was a more playful team, trying to get out from behind, it's not at all the same style. "

And a great lawn? Let's talk about the grass…

FC Nantes can send its gardeners to Marseille for an internship. Christian Gourcuff really enjoyed the Vélodrome lawn - a real pool table. The Nantes coach spontaneously mentioned the Marseille turf to explain the good level of his team this Saturday ... And to justify his poor performance, lately, at home:

“The streak where we could play a touch tonight would have been much more difficult at Beaujoire. This is a factor that binds us at home. "

To permanently change your face, should FC Nantes have a new lawn grafted? Waldemar Kita made a fortune in cosmetic surgery ... The idea of ​​a transplant could work.

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