Speaking after FC Nantes’ 2-1 victory over RC Strasbourg Alsace, Pierre Aristouy said that he was happy with his side’s reaction to last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to local rivals Stade Rennais in the Breton derby.
Nantes struggled in the opening two rounds of the season, losing to Toulouse and then Lille, however, they have only lost once since, against Rennes in the Breton derby in Round 7. Marcus Coco and Samuel Moutoussamy got the goals for Nantes in a result that provisionally lifts them to eighth in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table.
Aristouy replaced Antoine Kombouaré in the dugout of the Beaujoire towards the end of last season and guided Les Canaris to safety… just. They had been tipped to be embroiled in another relegation battle, however, their form since matchday three has allayed those fears.
However, Nantes still needed to show a reaction following their defeat to Rennes, and Aristouy was pleased to see one. “I am pleased with what I saw. I don’t think we nicked the result. We could have even prevented the small fright at the end of the match (caused by Moïse Sahi’s late consolation),” said the Nantes manager, in a post-match press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe.
The Frenchman added, “I was frustrated last weekend. I’m happy that we’re back on our feet, that we get things ticking again and most of all that we have rediscovered certainties in our game.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
