Nantes vs Caen preview - Riou commits to Nantes

Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou feels his adventure is only just beginning after signing a new three-year contract at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

The 27-year-old would have become a free agent this summer but he ended any uncertainty over his future by committing himself to Nantes ahead of Sunday's Ligue 1 home game with Caen.

"This proves that the club trusts me," Riou told the official Nantes website.

"That's what I wanted. My first choice was to continue the adventure here and raise the profile of this great club.

"It gives me the continuity of three years here and we have a young group, so it is a great adventure.

"We experienced the rise, keeping in Ligue 1 the last two seasons despite the ban on recruitment, and do not forget we play at Beaujoire .

"It is very important to have an audience like that and a pleasure to write your name in the history of the club."

Nantes have steadied the ship by winning two of their last four league games after going seven without a win and are ninth in Ligue 1.

Caen's position is more precarious as they are three points above the relegation zone in 14th place and they have picked up only one point since shocking Marseille by winning 3-2 at the Stade Velodrome at the end of February.

But France Under-20 midfielder Thomas Lemar has impressed in recent weeks and has been encouraged to get further forward and add goals to his game.

"The coach wants me to think like an attacker," Lemar told the official Caen website.

"I have to be more decisive and this is an important step in my progress.

"The coach has made me realise that I had to work harder in training and capitalise on my strengths."

Nantes defender Issa Cissokho should start following suspension while centre-back Koffi Djidji is also pushing for a recall as teammates Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Papy Djilobodji only returned on Thursday from international duty.

Caen welcome back centre-back Damien Da Silva after he missed the goalless draw with Metz due to suspension but Yrondu Musavu-King misses out through injury.