A match like this is worth it. Mud, driving rain, cold, wind, traffic jams too… Nothing is spared for Canary lovers this Thursday afternoon, but who cares? The surroundings of Beaujoire resemble those days of festivals with your feet in the slush but with a smile on your face.
Two hours before the kick-off of the shock against Juventus Turin in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League (6:45 p.m., RMC Sport 1), the arbors installed at the edge of the stadium are already filled. The smells of sausage patties and beer drift down to this hut below, where there are still a few places sheltered from the showers. We take it twice before believing that all these little people had never met before. To hear them speak, you would think they had been neighbors of seats in the stands for 10 years.
“You see a kettle, well, it’s even worse than that,” laughs Nicolas. He saw the three group matches, he experienced the Coupe de France final “at home” last May at the Stade de France, and expects “even more beautiful” against the Old Lady. After resisting and snatching a draw (1-1) last week, all dreams are allowed. “Tonight, we pass Juve and then we take Barça”, chained Kévin, his vintage yellow and green jersey hidden under a large black parka.
“There is this pride, but it’s not bling bling, it’s simple”
A slew of club legends have been invited for the occasion. The coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps, Claude Makélé, Jean-Claude Suaudeau, Nicolas Ouédec, Eddy Capron, Japhet N’Doram… “He is parked right next to Japhet. We often come across him in the center, it is the symbol of this Nantes-style simplicity”, specifies Nicolas, quickly cut off by the oldest of the gang, a certain Re. “Even Domenech will also be there, I believe”. General laughter, this is obviously wrong. The former coach of the France team, author of an express passage (46 days in the winter of 2020-2021), remains associated with these moments when the institution fell into the “circus”. “We, in Nantes, there is this pride, but it’s not bling bling, it’s simple. It’s a fervor, that’s all,” concludes Fred.
Anthony, 30, a neighbor of Les Sables d’Olonnes (Vendée), has only this word in his mouth too. The atmosphere. He signed up this season with two friends for continental adventure. “The European Cup here, I knew it very young with my parents. Against Manchester, Bayern… but that goes back a long way now (2001-2002). But there, such an opportunity, we say to ourselves that it will perhaps not come again for twenty years. So we did not hesitate. Ok, the day is starting in the rain but maybe the fleet will be less noticeable in a few hours”. His friend abounds. “To see the club live in such effervescence after falling into ruins, it’s great. »
One hour from kick-off, the Tribune Loire, located behind one of the two goals, is already packed. “That’s what’s crazy. Even when the results are not there, we are sure to have a show in the stands. The interest of the match is increased tenfold by that. And that is a source of pride,” continues Anthony.
Here and there, we know that smoke bombs and fireworks could accompany the entry of players. We hope this will remain reasonable and will not spoil the party. Like the few pyrotechnic displays in the car park. It’s 6:07 p.m. and the players’ warm-up has already set the tone. A yellow and green volcano is ready to erupt.
