It’s official since last month: Olivier Pantaloni will no longer be the coach of Lorient next season. After bringing the Merlus back into the elite last season, the Corsican coach is nevertheless on the verge of leading the Morbihan club into the first half of the ranking.
Large winner of FC Metz (0-4), Lorient is in 9th placee place before the last day and the reception from Le Havre to Moustoir. And if the announcement of the departure of the former midfielder at the beginning of April did not visibly demobilize the Lorient residents, some players have a heavy heart.
“For me, it’s even a scandal. I have rarely seen a coach achieve unanimous support and I am very, very disappointed with how it went, thus denounced Laurent Abergel at the microphone of Ligue1 +, Sunday, after the victory against Metz. We remain players, we accept each situation and we must do so. But very, very disappointed with the outcome. »
Olivier Pantaloni to Metz?
“I understand his choice, so my heart goes out to him. It was about Ligue 1 or Ligue 2, I hope he will find a Ligue 1 because he deserves it,” he added about the native of Bastia, announced on the shelves of FC Metz, who will play in Ligue 2 next season.
At the end of the contract, Olivier Pantaloni had moved forward “the distrust of leaders” to justify his decision to leave. “ If we go back in history, when I was informed that there would be a change of coach (in 2024), my agent put me in touch with the managers, I had three video meetings. At the end, I learn that I am not the chosen coach. Laurent Abergel, who knew me, “insisted” with the president. Laurent took on a heavy responsibility, he explained to Ouest-France. I accepted the challenge which was great, because I felt capable of it. But I sign under these conditions, which clearly show that there were a lot of doubts about me, that the leaders were not very sure of their choice. »
