Nantes are flying high in the French Ligue 1, sitting 3rd in the table with only big spending PSG and Monaco ahead of them . Though talk of European football might seem premature, yet there is no denying the fact that Claudio Ranieri's side are one of the most improved teams in Ligue 1.
Claudio Ranieri might have been unfortunate to have been sacked by Leicester City despite winning their first league title in their 133 years of existence as well as qualifying them for the second round of the Champions League yet this did nothing to halt his sacking nine months after he won the title. Fast forward to the present and Ranieri's Nantes boast the second best defence in Ligue 1 (seven goals conceded) as well as playing a highly comprehensive compact style of football. Having taken over the job after Sergio Conceicao resigned few weeks to the start of the new season to take over at Porto, Ranieri has further improved the side to the surprise of many . Given that Conceicao took the side from brinks of relegation to near European football qualification ladt season, despite the limited budget, Ranieri has done more in his few months at the club making them difficult to beat as well as improving most players.
Having lost his first two league games, the Italian abandoned his preferred 4-4-2 formation for 4-2-3-1 or 5-4-1 to get the best from his players. Under him, Nantes have conceded only once in their last five games with new signing and goalkeeper Ciprian Tatasuranu being the the fourth best goalkeeper in terms of save percentage in Europe's best five leagues. Playing with a direct style that allows them to soak pressure, sitting deep as well as countering at the slightest opportunity, Nantes have it all going for them at the moment. With top star Amine Harit sold for €10m in the summer, the likes of Abdoulaye Toure, Andrei Girotto and Rene Khhrin have stepped up. What is even more impressive is that Ranieri's appointment was not approved by the UNECATEF (France's Union of Coaches) due to the existing law that prohibits coaches over 65 years from managing in the league before the Legal Commission of the League stepped in to salvage the situation and confirm his appointment.
In Stade de La Beau, Club president Waldemar Kita even seems more excited than most given his public backing of the Italian to return the glory days to the club who were promoted to the first Division as recent as 2012 although they still remain one of the most successful french clubs having won the league eight times with the most recent been in 2001. With a desire for flexibility, pragmatism and emphasis on most attacks going through Adrien Thomasson , Ranieri has evolved his side to become a better side.
With Leicester fighting relegation already having sacked Ranieri's successor Craig Shakespeare last week, it is clear the Italian is already having the last laugh and is building something positively shocking at the moment.
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