Franck Kita on Nantes’ disastrous season: ‘I am the only one to blame.’

Franck Kita on Nantes’ disastrous season: ‘I am the only one to blame.’ Speaking ahead of the return for pre-season, FC Nantes CEO and son of owner Waldemar Kita, Franck, had addressed  Les Canaris’  catastrophic 2025/26 campaign, which ended with relegation to Ligue 2.  “When we win, it’s thanks to everyone; when we lose, I take full responsibility. I am the boss, I am the owner of the club, I am the one to blame, first and foremost. I am the only one to blame. I take full responsibility for us coming off the road, this relegation, which I assume entirely,” he began. His comments were the first made since the club’s relegation to Ligue 2. As is often the case, there was no post-season review with the media. Nantes’ final game of the season, meanwhile, was abandoned in the first half after angry fans stormed the pitch. Kita blamed instability for Nantes’ relegation Kita was also there to present Nantes’ new manager, Michel Der Zakarian. The club burned through three managers last season, ending the campaign with Vahid Halilhodzic at the helm. Kita said that the degree of change last summer played a big part in the club’s failure.  “It’s true that I like it when there is a bit of stability and the fact that we radically changed things: new players, new coaches, disturbed people’s reference points. We didn’t put anyone in good conditions, in the right context and so, for me, that is why we were relegated.” Der Zakarian, now in his third spell as manager of Nantes, knows that it will be no easy task to lead the Loire club back into the top-flight.  “We know that Ligue 2 is very difficult […] lots of teams will want to hit us,” said Der Zakarian. Last season, none of the sides relegated during the previous campaign (Stade de Reims, AS Saint-Étienne, Montpellier HSC) were promoted at the first time of asking.  GFFN | Luke Entwistle