A scoring club in Ligue 1 (30 seasons) and Ligue 2 (25 seasons), AS Nancy-Lorraine suffered a real blow last season when they found themselves at the bottom for most of the Ligue 2 exercise and saw themselves thus relegated to National 1. A real earthquake for the Meurthe-et-Mosellans who had never been so low since the professionalization of the club in 1967. Winning the Ligue 2 5 times, the 1978 Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue 2006, Nancy is known for its status as a training club with figurehead Michel Platini but also the Moroccans Mustapha and Youssouf Hadji as well as more recently Clément Lenglet and Michaël Cuisance. With a budget of 10 million euros, a 20,000-seat Marcel-Picot stadium and above all a strong recent history, AS Nancy-Lorraine had to play the leading roles and go straight back up to the League. 1.
A failed rebound
Seeing certain elements leave following relegation such as Warren Bondo (Monza), Yeni N’Gbakoto (Western Sydney), Baptiste Valette (Cholet), or even Grégoire Lefebvre (Versailles), Nancy was busy in terms of arrivals. Still financially troubled, the people of Lorraine relied on experienced players like Diafra Sakho (ex Rennes), Lenny Nangis (ex Lille), Gaëtan Bussmann (ex FC Metz), Baptiste Aloé (ex Marseille) or even Lucas Deaux. (ex Guingamp) – which happened to him this winter – in order to restart the machine. Arrived during last season and remains in spite of the descent, Albert Cartier continued with this team, but the results did not arrive. Beginning with two defeats and a draw, Nancy certainly then chained three victories, but the results were generally very disappointing during the first part of the season. In a season with six runs out of eighteen teams playing in National 1, the situation was serious last January with a 13th place and a relegation first place.
Following this, Albert Cartier was relieved of his duties last January, giving way to Benoît Pedretti who had already provided a three-month interim the previous season. “We had already wanted to entrust the responsibility of our first team to Benoît last season, but all the conditions were not met then. It was obvious today for us to discuss again with him. I am convinced that his management and his ambitious game philosophy will allow us to improve our performance and our results. explained President Gauthier Ganaye when appointing the former OL, OM and AJ Auxerre player. The rebound has taken place with 3 wins (3-2 against Dunkirk, 1-0 against Le Mans and 2-1 against Versailles) and 1 draw in its first four matches. Coming out of the red zone, Nancy then alternated between the place of first non-relegation and that of first relegation. It is also in the first suit that Avranches was and in the second that the ASNL was when the Thistles received the Normans on April 29th.
Nancy on the edge of the precipice
In a still hot club context where the imminent departure of President Gauthier Ganaye was recorded two days before, access to the Stade Marcel-Picot was free for the occasion in order to form a total unity around the club. It also worked well, because in a magnificent atmosphere with more than 14,000 spectators present, AS Nancy-Lorraine snatched a brilliant 3-0 victory which seemed decisive for the maintenance. Then continuing with a draw against the leader Martigues (1-1), the Lorraine had the opportunity to almost validate their maintenance against Puy at home. A surreal match against a team already condemned to the National 2. Strong beginner, AS Nancy-Lorraine cornered their opponent until obtaining a penalty (36th). Hitting too softly, Diafra Sakho saw his attempt being repelled by Jonathan Millieras. In the aftermath, Nancy was surprised by a goal from Adel Lembezat (39th). Led at the break, Nancy pushed to come back and still got a penalty (70th). Striking the sentence like Jorginho or Bruno Fernandes with a small jump preceding the shot, Baptiste Mouazan touched the post of Jonathan Millieras (71st) and as in the first period, Nancy was still punished by Mohamed Ben Fredj (73rd) . A score of 2-0 which brought the anger of Stade Marcel-Picot. Following the throwing of firecrackers and other projectiles, the meeting was interrupted in a deleterious atmosphere and under the whistles of the public.
The match will end, Thomas Robinet (76th) will reduce the score, but Nancy will bow well 2-1. The consequence is terrible since the victory of Avranches against Versailles (3-0) caused the Lorraine region to fall back into the red zone. This Friday, it is therefore in a relegation position that Nancy (13th, 40 points) will challenge Football Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas 01 (14th, 39 points) this Friday at 9 p.m. The two teams will thus play their maintenance and the ASNL is condemned to victory to hope to save itself. Any other result would be insufficient. At the same time, it will be necessary that Châteauroux (12th, 41 points) – which faces Paris 13 Atlético (17th) which is already relegated – or that Avranches (11th, 42 points) – which challenges Cholet (7th) – does not do not win (draw or defeat) to hope to overtake one of these teams. Tenth, Le Mans can also be overtaken by ASNL in the event of defeat against the second Dunkirk if ever the Lorraine region wins. Hope still exists, but it will be complicated for Nancy who has often fought with Metz for the title of best team in Lorraine and who has a good chance of even being overtaken by Épinal (first in his National 2 group) in the hierarchy. The saying “Who rubs it there piques” has never seemed so inappropriate…
Pub. THE
CAN laugh
