Pierre Aristouy labels ‘bitter’ Nantes exit ‘unjust’

Pierre Aristouy has called his premature exit from FC Nantes an “ injustice ” during an interview with Sud Ouest . The manager had steered Les Canaris away from the relegation zone at the end of last season, but by late November he was sacked after a run of four games without a win . 

Nantes at this point were in 10th and results had generally been patchy with four wins, six losses, and three draws but there had been nothing to demonstrate that the club needed radical change. However, still, Aristouy was removed from his position and Jocelyn Gourvennec was brought in instead.

Results have hardly improved since his departure with a record of three wins, six losses, and one draw in the ten games since Aristouy was sacked, and point to the previous manager’s frustrations with the situation. “ There was no urgency to make such a decision. ” 

Aristouy expands on this, “ When it’s November, we’re 10th and I’m fired, I consider it an injustice… I look at what’s happening in other clubs. Such as with Patrick Viera (manager of RC Strasbourg Alsace) or Régis Le Bris (of FC Lorient) , they benefited from the trust of their leaders .” 

He remains frustrated with what happened and still thinks about how the project he was in the early stages of overseeing could have developed. “ I am convinced that we could have done great things. I’d been there for seven years (as the u-19s and reserve team manager) , they knew who I was, what I could give. And after a few months, they wouldn’t let me continue. Honestly, there will always be bitterness about that .” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland