“I have kept a lot of ties to Nîmes”, confides former Croco Patrick Videira, Le Mans coach

Entraîneur du Mans depuis le début de saison, sa première expérience en National, Patrick Videira a porté les couleurs de Nîmes Olympique pendant une saison, en 2005-2006. MAXPPP – Samuel Coulon

His time with the Crocodiles was brief. But Patrick Videira, the Le Mans coach who visits Nîmes on Friday for the 14th day of the National, has not forgotten him.

Patrick Videira has almost no voice left, lost from shouting. Even hoarse, the Le Mans coach speaks at length on the phone. Nîmes, it speaks to him!

It was in Nîmes that his son Lenny, who plays in the U19s at Bastia, was born. It was in Nîmes that he ended his professional career in 2006, suffering from total paralysis, a repercussion of the trauma suffered a few months earlier (1). Nîmes where he still has an apartment, not to mention a house in Milhaud.

The 14th day and the National ranking

“I have kept a lot of ties to this city, explains the 47-year-old Franco-Portuguese. The desire, the grit, the determination, this club really suited me. I still regret not having been at my level during my short stint otherwise I would have had a great time.”

If he had scored in his first match at Costières against Entente Sannois-Saint-Gratien, the defensive midfielder, during this exercise 2005-2006 in National, had finally played only eight matches under the crocodile jersey.

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Le Mans performing well away from home and without a win at home

Patrick Videira, who has just obtained his Professional Football Coaching Certificate (BEPF), lives in Le Mans, where he took over from Mathieu Chabert, his first experience in the National, after six seasons coaching Furiani-Agliani, between National 3 and National 2.

A particularity of his team, which is one step ahead of the Crocos: it is the only one that has still not won at home (2 draws, 3 defeats) and 12 of its 14 points have been collected away from home, where the Sarthe team has the third best record in the National with four wins and three losses.

The explanation ? “If I knew it… I think it's more of a mental problem than anything else, replies Patrick Videira. The problem already existed last season (16th record at home, 1st away, Editor's note). Away from home, we are able to play in a free manner. At home, in an extraordinary venue (the Marie-Marvingt stadium, 25,000 seats) and on a beautiful pitch, we come up against opponents who are three times more motivated and we don't have, for the moment, that little extra in self-sacrifice and going beyond our role.”

Defensive porosity

Another concern for Le Mans: their porosity in defense. After conceding only one goal in the first four games, they conceded sixteen in the next eight (third worst record, tied with Concarneau), which prompted Videira to switch from three players in defense to four in recent games time.

“We have to be more solid”, he agrees, while noting: “Against us, our opponents are showing royal efficiency. Every shot hits the mark!”

“Nîmes is not in its place”

The Le Mans technician of course noted that Nîmes was seriously lacking in efficiency. “With a very coherent squad, it is a team capable of producing play, with technical players and interesting associations, a team that can put you in difficulty on transitions. Compared to what it offers, Nîmes is not in its place.”

Remaining on three defeats in the Championship, Le Mans regained some color in the Coupe de France by winning 4-0 in the 8th round, last Saturday against Locminé (N2). “This allowed us, Patrick Videira finished, to give ourselves confidence and to restart a positive spiral that I hope to continue in Nîmes.”

(1) In November 2004, with Rodez, the side door of the small plane that was taking him to Bastia had exploded in flight. Sitting opposite, he had been sucked into the void, saved by the seat belt that he had just fastened. I subscribe to read the rest