No sympathy for Nancy 'amateurs'
Monday, February 4, 2008
Article summary
Pablo Correa conceded that his side had "played like amateurs" after AS Nancy-Lorraine were humbled in the French Cup by lowly US Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou.
Article body
AS Nancy-Lorraine coach Pablo Correa conceded that his side had "played like amateurs" after they were humbled in the French Cup by US Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou.
Biggest losers
Third in Ligue 1, Nancy were the biggest losers in this weekend's French Cup last-32 games, going down 2-1 after extra time against fifth-tier amateur side Carquefou. Marc-Antoine Fortuné cancelled out Laurent Delanoë's opener for the team hailing from a small town near Nantes, but Nancy could not deny Sébastien Le Paih a 117th-minute winner.
'Four against eleven'
"Congratulations to Carquefou," said Uruguayan coach Correa. "I'm sorry for them because I don't think they really achieved that much because they did not really beat a Ligue 1 team – we played like amateurs." The former Nancy striker was angry that so many of his players had underperformed saying: "It's not easy to win with four against eleven."
Seasonal slump
The new year has started badly for Nancy, who went into the Christmas break looking like Olympique Lyonnais' main contenders for the title. Without a Ligue 1 win since 24 November, Nancy's tough start to 2008 has been exacerbated by the absences of Michaël Chrétien, Youssouf Hadji and Monsef Zerka at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Repeat performance
Like last season, Nancy made no significant summer signings, with Correa rightly reckoning that a well-integrated side would be able to profit in the early stages of the campaign while other sides struggled to integrate new players. However, history looks to be repeating itself. Fifth last November, they ended the season 13th as the demands of UEFA Cup football took their toll. On current form, they are destined for another ignominious spring campaign.
Marseille next
However, they received no sympathy from the Carquefou players after Sunday's game. Midfielder Bagdad Sehla said: "They were not easy conditions for them, with strong winds and an imperfect pitch and opponents who did not panic even when [Nancy] equalised in extra-time." Carquefou will look to spread more mischief as they visit Olympique de Marseille in the last 16 on 18 or 19 March.