FC Nantes are clinging on by a thread. When Vahid Halilihodzic arrived, replacing Ahmed Kantari and becoming Les Canaris’ third manager of the season, he said that it was “mission almost impossible”. In his first two games in charge, his side have taken just one point.
That point came away to FC Metz on Sunday. Whilst Les Grenats are the only side below Nantes in the table, Halilhodzic was grateful for a draw. Tylel Tati saw red late in the first half. Playing the whole of the second half with 10 men, against a side that needed all three points to have any hope of beating the drop, Les Canaris had to hold on. Gauthier Hein looked to have broken the resistance in the final minute of injury time, only for a marginal offside call to come to Nantes’ rescue.
It means that, for now, Nantes are “still alive”, in the words of Halilhodzic. “We are still alive, barely, but we are alive, nonetheless,” he said. Les Canaris’ manager added, “Psychologically, there is a real weakness. I already said it when I arrived. I feel as though the players talk very little. You have to get everyone moving, to get colleagues talking, to get them to help each other. I am working a lot to try and improve that.”
