Laure is 17 years old and a member of the “Worshippers” fan group. She attends all the home games and tries to travel as often as possible to support her team. Nicolas is 44 years old and has been supporting Le Mans since he was twelve. They help us get to know Le Mans UC 72 better, one of the revelations of the last edition of the French L1 championship.
Nice-Première: Before discussing this season, how do you analyze the 2005-2006 version of Muc72? Can we say satisfaction for the league and regret for the league cup, somewhat like for OGC Nice?
Laure: The 2005/2006 season was very good for a club like Le Mans even though I think we could have done better than 11th place. We discovered some revelations (Basa, Bangoura, De Melo) and even confirmations (notably Pelé). I don’t think we can say that the League Cup is really a regret because it was the first time we reached this level of the competition, and we are, moreover, a young club (21 years old). This experience will help the club and the players progress. The only small regret is that the team didn’t manage (or couldn’t) play at their level during this semi-final in Nancy.
Nicolas: Our number one goal was maintenance, which was achieved quite early. The recruitment was of quality. The staff is building the club serenely. Indeed, the regret is not having known or been able to beat Nancy in the semi. The team was not at its best at that time.
NP: Frédéric Hantz has revealed himself to many football enthusiasts. What did you think of him when he arrived and what do you think of him now?
Laure: When Fred Hantz arrived at Le Mans, I didn’t really know him. I had just seen him during his odyssey with Brive but that’s all. Since he has been with us, he has brought his very professional side by always looking to optimize the group by all means (even the craziest). His work is recognized and is working at Le Mans, so it’s good. I only think well of it, and I hope it continues.
Nicolas: I didn’t know him, but he quickly positioned himself as the team’s boss with sometimes very innovative methods.
I am very happy to have seen him re-sign for another term, which will allow, I am sure, to lay good foundations for the club.
NP: Quickly introduce us to this season’s squad. Are you satisfied with the recruitment? Aren’t you disappointed about the departures of Thomas, Hautcoeur…?
Laure: The squad is very young (less than 23 years old on average). The talented goalkeeper Yohan Pelé stayed as did the whimsical Japanese Daisuke Matsui, the Guinean Ismael Bangoura, and the Serbian Marko Basa.
Our captain Laurent Bonnart (contacted by Nice) is still there. Then, the club conducted internal recruitment by promoting young talents trained at the club: the goalkeeper Ferrand, the attackers Samassa and Baal, and the midfielders Loriot and Coutadeur. The most promising is the midfielder Mathieu Coutadeur who should play against Nice (instead of Hautcoeur). Also, defenders Calvé (Sochaux), Louvion (young player from Cannes), Camara (Parma), and Paulo André (Brazil) along with the attacking midfielder Sessegnon (Créteil) have joined the club. The recruitment satisfies me knowing that the club has specialized in the discovery of young talents (Drogba, Cousin, Thomert, Thomas, Hautcoeur, Basa, Matsui, De Melo, Bangoura…). Regarding the departures of our two midfielders, I would say that for Fred Thomas, it was planned that he would leave this season (promise of the president who had forced him to stay during the relegation to Ligue 2) while Yohan Hautcoeur was non-transferable, and the transfer was made at the last moment. Otherwise, I am a bit disappointed but I know that Le Mans is a training club and thus that the young talents leave to play elsewhere. I wish them to have a beautiful career (they have the international level).
Nicolas: I am not too disappointed about their departures because they deserve to go progress elsewhere. They have given a lot for the club and have proven loyal in the worst times.
We have high hopes for Sessegnon and Samassa. Grafite, the Brazilian center-forward who arrived at the end of the year, should show all his talent this season. We have doubled up on positions with Calvé, Camara, and Louvion. We are missing a midfield recoverer to fill the departures of Thomas and Hautcoeur as well as a new striker.
NP: What are the ambitions of MUC72? Are you afraid of the second season in the elite?
Laure: The ambition of Le Mans is to stay in Ligue 1 and to build sustainably in the elite. Hantz said he would set goals later when he knows the level of the team. I fear the second season because it is often the most difficult but let’s wait for the match against Nice to get an idea.
Nicolas: I’m not particularly afraid because I feel that the club has taken another dimension. The goal remains maintenance and a coup in one of the two cups.
NP: Let’s now talk about Saturday’s opponent. What do you think of OGC Nice, their recruitment (Moussilou, Kanté) and the supporters?
Laure: OGC Nice had a very good end to the season and has a balanced squad. The recruitment seems promising if Moussilou returns to his best level and if Kanté adapts to his new team. I must admit that I don’t really appreciate the Nice supporters; I find them a bit too violent.
Nicolas: OGC Nice is a good L1 club that may lack a bit of rigor in stability. Their attack is impressive, but how will their defense find itself after the departure of Sammy Traoré?
I don’t really appreciate the supporters who seem to me from what I have observed (in Le Mans and in Nice) quite violent, especially verbally. Latin temperament?
NP: Which players do you fear in the Nice squad? Which players are to be feared among you?
Laure: On the Nice side, I fear Florent Balmont for his activity, Cyril Rool and Cédric Varrault for their relative or non-aggressiveness and Marama Vahirua for his technique. On the Manceau side, the man in form is, without a doubt, the Ivorian Romaric who has been repositioned as a recoverer-organizer (probably associated with Mathieu Coutadeur) and who is very dangerous on direct free kicks, on his shots and on his crosses. Otherwise, you should fear the goalkeeper Yohan Pelé who seems to be starting again. There could also be a little surprise in attack with the young striker Mamadou Samassa who is on two goals in two matches (the only two Manceau goals).
Nicolas: Lloris, Kanté, Rool, Ederson, Bellion, Koné, Moussilou. With us, you can fear Matsui, Grafite, Bangoura, Romaric (on free kicks) and the rises of Basa and André on corners.
NP: What do you think of the L1 clubs’ transfer market in general? Who, in your opinion, is the RECRUIT of the summer?
Laure: The transfer market is very calm. The recruit of the summer for me is Yohan Hautcoeur at Saint-Etienne. Few people know his level, but I can say that he is a monster.
Nicolas: The recruit of the summer for me is Micoud at Bordeaux while waiting for Trezeguet at Lyon.
NP: Finally, a place for predictions. In your opinion, where will Le Mans and Nice finish? And what is your prediction for Saturday?
Laure: Nice can finish, I think, in the top ten and I prefer not to comment on Le Mans. For Saturday, I can see a nice 3-0 (especially if it’s Grégorini in goal).
Nicolas: Le Mans will win 2 to 1
Nice will finish 9th and Le Mans 10th.
