After the defeat against Strasbourg in the first game on the bench (2:3), there followed two goalless draws against Metz and Auxerre, two clubs which, along with Nantes, are at the bottom of the table.
Sunday brought a new opportunity for the first victory in this term, on the bench against Brest. The club from the middle of the table was already losing in the ninth minute, when Mostafa Mohamed scored. The same result stood in the 65th minute, when Nantes was left with a player less after Dehmaine Tabibou was sent off for a foul on a player who was going for the goal alone. Halilhodžić was furious at the referee’s decision and, after a few minutes of not being able to calm down, earned himself an expulsion. It seemed that Nantes could save all three points with one less player, but in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Brendan Chardonnet scored and saved a point for Brest.
A few minutes after the game, Halilhodžić did not keep his mouth shut when it came to the trial, reports Foot Mercato.
– After this game, I’m angry and I don’t understand this red card. I didn’t understand any of the referee’s decisions. The judge is young. He told me I might get suspended. I don’t care about the suspension. I could get 10 years, I’m done with football. But when I see injustice, I have to react. I called him to explain. “You must respect us, sir.” What is this man up to? The boys did their best. I am angry and frustrated – began Halilhodžić and continued.
« Je peux prendre une suspension de 10 ans, je m’en fous, j’en ai termine avec le football »
@ligue1plus pic.twitter.com/0bHAaZtSUh
— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) April 19, 2026
– I’m calling the judge to get an explanation. As a coach you have the right to ask for things, you have to respect us. He gives me a red card from fifty yards out, but he should come and say it to my face. Come on, I told him, come and explain. Of course there are nerves. However, this is at least the sixth time we have conceded a goal after the 90th minute. It’s really the season… It’s very difficult. It’s incredibly frustrating. The team really wanted to win, we did our best. And then there’s fate… and this trial. I didn’t understand that. Not only a red card (for Tabibou), there was, for example, a difficult clash between Mat (Abline) and the goalkeeper, you could have asked for a red card for that too – he adds and continues.
I don’t understand. We have to be realistic… Today was one of our last chances to score points, gain confidence and start a series of positive results. We needed a win. This team is capable. We worked hard. I thought we could win. I believed it until the very end. Fate decided otherwise. We are angry, we are disappointed, it is hard to swallow tonight – concluded the popular ‘Vaha’, reports Sportske Novosti.
After this game, Nantes is still in the relegation zone. Auxerre, which is in the place leading to the play-offs for survival in the league, escapes them by five points with a game in hand, and Nantes will visit the leading team of the championship, PSG, in the next round.
(Vijesti.ba)
