Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré calls for “more heated” dressing room

FC Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has emphasised the importance of team spirit and strong character as his team prepares for a crucial match against Brest in Ligue 1. The FC Nantes team suffered a heavy defeat against Toulouse in the final of the Coupe de France, and now faces a tough challenge to secure their place in the top flight of French football. The following was transcribed by RMC Sport.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match against Brest, Kombouaré called for a more heated atmosphere in the dressing room, saying, “If you ask me, I would prefer that sometimes things get a little heated. At least things are said.” He also stressed that the players need to work together to secure victories, saying, “They know that it is together that we will go and win the matches.”

Kombouaré went on to say that he had appreciated some of the players expressing themselves during the halftime break in the match against Toulouse, where they were 4-0 down. He stressed the importance of the players taking responsibility for their performances, saying, “The victories are for the players. The defeats are for me.”

While Kombouaré acknowledged that the team’s character was not yet strong enough, he remained optimistic, saying, “In the period we are in, there is a realisation. Do not use big words. Go see them in a locker room, you will see if they are nice. They are not nice, huh!”

GFFN | George Boxall