Nantes coach names five standouts before historic play-off at OL Lyonnes | OneFootball

Fourth in the regular season, Nantes visit OL Lyonnes at 18:00 on Saturday for the club’s first play-off semi-final. Coach Nicolas Chabot has identified five standouts from the campaign.

Goalkeeper Emily Burns, 28, was Seconde Ligue’s best in 2023-2024 and is up for the LFFP Première Ligue award. Chabot hails the Canada international’s calm authority, saves and distribution, saying she is now a complete keeper. Julie Rabanne earlier told La Voix du Nord she had rediscovered the joy of playing after two difficult seasons with Lille.

Forward Lucie Calba, 21, joined from Reims, scoring 11 league goals and three in cups, and was December’s player of the month. A France U23 regular, she is close to Laurent Bonadei’s Bleues and again nominated for UNFP and LFFP young player, with Chabot calling her his most clinical finisher who is still chasing consistency.

Julie Swierot, 19, has played 1,627 minutes, fourth among outfielders used by Chabot. He highlights her versatility as sentinel or relay midfielder and says a European run could help keep her on loan from OL Lyonnes.

Rabanne, 37, operates on both flanks as full-back or wing-back. Chabot credits her leadership and professionalism, while acknowledging competition has meant rotation.

Belgian international Mariam Toloba, 26, the 2024-2025 Pro League MVP, arrived last summer and has seven goals and three assists despite injuries. Chabot cites her pace into space and futsal-honed close control, praising her unpredictability and scope for improvement, and she was player of the month in January and a nominee in April.

Source: L'Équipe