Nantes’ Pierre Aristouy after 3-0 loss to Montpellier: “Players are afraid.” | OneFootball

FC Nantes look to be heading to Ligue 2 following their 3-0 home loss to Montpellier on Saturday afternoon. Les Canaris are stuck in 17th place and are set to join Ajaccio, Troyes and Angers in the second tier next season.

Nantes started quite well against La Paillade yesterday, but the visitors only needed one opportunity to open the scoring through midfielder Jordan Ferri (31). From then on, Nantes crumbled in astonishing fashion, conceding two goals in the second half. The Loire-Atlantique side can take solace in the fact that PSG beat 16th-placed Auxerre later in the evening, a result that maintains their hopes of keeping their Ligue 1 status.

“We don’t hurt our opponents“, assessed newly-named Nantes coach Pierre Aristouy, as reported by L’Équipe. “Unfortunately, in this kind of situation, the slightest misstep, the slightest grain of sand, completely changes the face of a team.” Aristouy has lamented the “total mess” that his players produced in the second half. The former Nantes forward said his squad could be divided into two groups relating to their current mindset. “There are devastated players, and that’s positive after such a result, while other players are afraid and that’s a problem.”

Nantes have a 1-point deficit on Auxerre. Les Canaris will travel to Lille and host Ligue 2-bound Angers for their two final games of the season.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval