Toulouse vs Nantes preview - Der Zakarian wants top 10 finish
Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by PA
Nantes coach Michel Der Zakarian wants his team to cement their place in the top 10 by following up their win over Marseille with victory against Toulouse.
Nantes recorded one of their best results of the season last weekend, defeating Marseille 1-0 thanks to Serge Gakpe's 20th minute strike.
With Nice losing to Paris St Germain, Nantes' victory moved them up 10th in Ligue 1 and Der Zakarian, aware that European qualification is almost out of the question, has set his men the target of finishing in the top half of the table.
The Armenian thinks victory at the Stadium Municipal on Saturday will do Nantes' chances the world of good.
"If you want to stay in the top 10 we will have to get the points at Toulouse," Der Zakarian told a press conference.
"I said to the players that by the end of the season, we need to keep this common goal of finishing in the top half of the table."
Last week's home win dented Marseille's Champions League aspirations and all but secured Nantes' Ligue 1 status.
They are now eight points above the relegation zone with five matches left.
There is no chance of the Nantes coach easing up on his players in the final weeks of the campaign, though.
"I expect the same determination, concentration, dedication and rigour as we had before (against Marseille)," Der Zakarian added.
"In Toulouse, we have to run as much as we did against Marseille."
Danish defender Kian Hansen has been ruled out with a thigh problem for the match on Saturday evening.
Despite being 15th in the standings, Toulouse are one of the form teams in France.
Coach Dominique Arribage has won three matches out of four since replacing Alain Casanova as manager last month.
Toulouse are just three points above the relegation zone though so Arribage feels another win is necessary this weekend.
He is expecting a tough test against a team with the sixth best record in the division.
"This match is very important for us. We must win some points," Arribage told a press conference.
"Nantes are very solid. They defend in a large block that is very dense and difficult to move."
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