Almost Mission Impossible: Vahid Halilhodzic completely devastated after Nantes cruel draw against Brest

The FC Nantes secured a draw against Stade Brestois in the final moments this Sunday in Ligue 1 (1-1). A result that further distances the team of Vahid Halilhodzic from the prospect of maintenance, very marked after this new disillusionment. Joined in injury time by Brest (1-1), and deprived of a success that would have reignited their battle for maintenance this Sunday in Ligue 1, Nantes and their coach Vahid Halilhodzic lamented a “destiny that can be very cruel”. Reduced to ten men in the 65th minute due to Dehmaine Tabibou’s severe expulsion, the Canaries, who had been leading since the 9th minute, conceded a goal in the 6th minute of injury time. It was the 7th goal conceded by FCN after the 90th minute, the worst record in Ligue 1 from this perspective alongside Marseille.

“Of course, it’s very tough, it’s a huge frustration, a huge incomprehension as well. The team really wanted to win tonight, they gave everything they had,” explained Halilhodzic after the match. “After this draw, it’s almost mission impossible. We need to calm down a bit and prepare for the next challenge, which won’t be easy. I can imagine the faces tomorrow at the cooldown, with huge disappointment in the locker room (…) When you work and you’re not rewarded for that work, it’s a bit difficult to accept. It’s destiny, it can be very, very cruel from time to time,” he added.

“We deserved victory by far”

Until the equalizer, Brest, who played a very mediocre game, had been very unthreatening. “We deserved victory by far,” judged the Bosnian, “even with ten men, we created several opportunities (…) Brest didn’t create any chance.” “But we knew, that 41% of the goals they scored were from set pieces. We worked on it, we explained things (in training), unfortunately, we paid for it again,” explained Halilhodzic.

Himself sent off in the 69th minute because he didn’t accept the red card against Tabibou, he explained that he wanted to ask the referee for explanations. As for whether Nantes, who will face Paris SG and Rennes by next Sunday, can still catch up and surpass Auxerre, 16th and virtual playoff spot holder, with a 5-point lead, it is no longer certain. “Even if we have hope to reclaim that playoff spot, it’s almost impossible. We will continue to work, we will continue to play, we will try to win (…) but we need to be realistic, sincere, it will be very difficult,” he admitted.