Nantes seek stability
Sunday, December 16, 2001
Article summary
uefa.com gives its mid-term report on UEFA Champions League challengers FC Nantes Atlantique.
Article body
Each day until 31 December uefa.com will assess the fortunes of a UEFA Champions League participant. Today we look at FC Nantes Atlantique.
It has been the best of times and worst of times for FC Nantes Atlantique this season as a fantastic run in the UEFA Champions League has coincided with some poor results in Le Championnat.
Surprise packages
Reynald Denoueix’s side were the surprise packages of the first stage emerging as victors from a tough group in which all the opposition were previous European trophy winners. Yet a look back in the history books would indicate that Nantes’s success was not entirely unpredictable. They last graced the Champions League in 1995/96, when, against all expectation, they reached the semi-finals.
Miserable form
However, their sparkling performances in the Champions League have been in stark contrast to miserable league form. Despite retaining the nucleus of last season’s title-winning squad, Nantes made a terrible start to the season and never really recovered.
Relegation threat
Observers of French football say the team has struggled to come to terms with the fact that their opponents raise their game to play the reigning champions. After 17 games they were two points adrift at the bottom of the table.
FIRST GROUP STAGE: Early wins
Six points from their two opening encounters proved the springboard for qualification from Group D. PSV Eindhoven were conquered 4-1 before the French champions pulled off one of the shocks of the first stage, winning 3-1 against S.S. Lazio at the Olimpico stadium.
Lazio double
Defeat at home to Galatasaray SK was followed by two successive draws which meant they needed at least a point from the return game with Lazio to ensure passage into the second stage. Nantes went for the jugular and Pierre-Yves André's flicked header secured a 1-0 victory and first place in the group.
SECOND GROUP STAGE: Reversal of fortune
In direct contrast to their explosive start to the first stage, Nantes have lost their first two Group A matches. Erwin Sánchez's first-half strike for Boavista FC was decisive in the battle of the group’s underdogs in Portugal while Champions League holders FC Bayern München returned from France with a 1-0 win thanks to Paulo Sergio's winner.
REMAINING GAMES: United next
Propping up the group with zero points, Nantes need to make home advantage count in their next Champions League encounter against Manchester United FC on 20 February. Daunting trips to Manchester and Munich after that make qualification seem like a tall order.
After succeeding Jean-Claude Suaudeau in 1997, Denoueix was responsible for building the Nantes team that eventually won the French title last season.
Right balance
The 53-year-old is also the tactical mastermind behind Nantes amazing run through the first stage of the Champions League. His team selection has been astute, combining defensive stability with freedom for attack-minded players such as Olivier Quint, Solomon Olemebe Olembe and André.
Motivational issues
Nevertheless, some supporters have been critical of Denoueix’s ability to motivate his side for the less prestigious league games and see this as an explanation for their perilous position. For his part Denoueix reckons the problem lies with the size of the Nantes fixture list. “It's strange that we can be so good in the Champions League and so bad in the French league,” he said. “With the succession of games every three or four days, one doesn't have much time to think a lot about what to do or what to rectify."
THE PLAYER: Mickaël Landreau
Nantes conceded just three goals in the entire first group stage and much of the credit for this defensive fortitude must go to goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau.
Barthez's successor
The 20-year-old is already rated as the natural successor to Fabien Barthez as the French international goalkeeper and he could even make the national squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.
Outstanding form
Landreau has shown maturity and leadership with some outstanding Champions League displays, particularly in away games at Lazio and PSV. On both occasions he held firm under heavy bombardment to ensure Nantes returned home with crucial points.
DOMESTIC FORM: Dismal run
After 17 league matches, the reigning champions were firmly rooted to the bottom of the table and in grave danger of relegation. They have won just three league matches all season, the same amount of games they have won in the Champions League.
