Der Zakarian back at Nantes: 'I returned to get promoted'

Michel Der Zakarian has returned to the helm of FC Nantes, his boyhood club, with one mission: restore the Canaries to Ligue 1. According to L'Équipe, the 63-year-old coach already achieved this feat twice before, in 2008 and 2013, moments he describes as his «best memories» as a manager.

At a press conference ahead of the clash with Red Star in the opening match of Ligue 2 (Saturday at 20:45), Der Zakarian made his ambitions clear: «I returned to get promoted, that's the objective. I want us to be in the top two at the end of the season». The coach also stressed the importance of mentality, warning his squad not to be overconfident: «If we're not in the fight, if we think we're stronger than our opponents, we won't win a match».