‘If we do nothing, we’re going down’ – Nantes president explains decision to sack Jocelyn Gourvennec

As revealed by L’Équipe and Ouest-France, Antoine Kombouaré is set to replace Jocelyn Gourvennec as manager at FC Nantes. Whilst this decision is yet to be officialised, President Waldemar Kita has confirmed Kombouaré’s imminent return in an interview with L’Équipe. 

Since replacing Pierre Aristouy in late November, Gourvennec has lost 10 of his 15 games in charge of Les Canaris. With the club currently occupying the relation play-off place, inaction wasn’t an option for Kita, who saw the need to urgently make the change after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to RC Strasbourg Alsace.

🚨 | Antoine Kombouaré is set to replace Jocelyn Gourvennec as Nantes manager. ⬇️https://t.co/JD5g5PSH5C

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 17, 2024

“It was a difficult thought process because [Gourvennec] is a great guy. We would really have wanted to keep him, but we didn’t see a way out. Despite all the sympathy that we have for Jocelyn, when you see the players’ behaviour, the results, an ensemble of things, there is no revolution. You can speak as much as you want, but at some point, you need an electroshock, to recreate a dynamic, recreate hope. If we do nothing, we’re going down,” said Kita, who also stated that the players have their share of responsibility. 

‘We had no choice’ – Kita on decision to sack Gourvennec

In his interview with L’Équipe, he added, “Change was an obligation. We had no choice. I did this in the interest of the club.” Kita then went on to explain his discuss his decision to re-hire Kombouaré, whom he fired towards the end of last season with the club in a similarly precarious situation. 

Kita said that towards the end of his last spell as Nantes manager, he felt that Kombouaré was “tired and worn out”. However, with Kombouaré announcing a desire to return to management during in an interview with L’Équipe last week, Kita believes it is the right choice to bring Kombouaré back. 

“He said he was looking for a new team and he said that he had a good time at Nantes, that he felt Nantais. He is someone who knows how to manage a dressing room. We need someone respected,” said Kita, who said that he still believed in Les Canaris’ chances of staying up. “The gaps are small; there are eight matches left. That gives me hope. If we were 10 points away, it would be over, but that isn’t the case,” added the Nantes president.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle