Caen in mourning: 'Mbappé and his entourage are also to blame for this relegation'

At the end of July, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé made headlines off the pitch when it was announced that he had purchased eighty percent of SM Caen’s shares, becoming the majority owner of the historic French club.

While the move initially generated a wave of optimism and media attention, it arrived at a time when the club’s preparations for the new season were already nearly complete. The first league match of the Ligue 2 campaign was just around the corner, and the pre-season phase crucial for physical conditioning, tactical planning, and squad cohesion had already passed. What many had hoped would be a fresh start for Caen under the leadership of one of France’s most iconic players quickly turned into a chaotic and unstructured attempt to salvage a season already slipping away.

Now, less than a year later, Caen have officially been relegated to the Championnat National, the third tier of French football, and the mood around the club has turned from hopeful to bitter. The blame, according to many within and around the club, lies not only with the sporting results on the pitch but also with the timing and approach of the new ownership. RMC Sport spoke to several figures connected to Caen former coaches, fans, and insiders and there was near total consensus: Kylian Mbappé and his entourage should have acted sooner if they truly intended to lead a revival.

Among those who did not hold back in their criticism was Pierre Mankowski, the coach who guided Caen to Ligue 1 in 1996. Speaking with frustration, he pointed to the foundational mistakes that shaped the season. According to Mankowski, from the very start, Caen were behind. Mbappé and his team only arrived after the structure for the new season had already been laid or in Caen’s case, not laid at all. Recruitment began late, strategic planning was rushed, and most of the players went into the competitive calendar without a proper pre-season. The team was incomplete by the time the league started, meaning that Caen entered the race with a clear handicap.

Patrice Garande, another legendary figure in Caen’s history who oversaw four consecutive seasons in Ligue 1, also expressed his disappointment not only in the results, but in how the new leadership has operated. For him, the club is more than a football team; it’s an institution that plays an essential role in the life of the city and its people. Garande admitted that although he no longer wishes to be a coach, he was ready and willing to help the club in any way he could even if just for advice or consultation. However, he lamented that such offers were seemingly unwelcome, adding that the new regime lacks humility and closed itself off to voices that might have helped guide it through the transition.

The sense of disillusionment isn’t limited to former staff it runs deep in the heart of the fanbase. Christophe Vaucelle, president of the Malherbe Normandy Kop, one of the club’s most prominent supporters’ groups, spoke candidly about the feelings among fans. He echoed the frustration with the timing of the takeover, stating plainly that the Mbappé clan arrived too late and must accept a share of the responsibility for the club’s relegation. Supporters had expected a vision, a plan, and a show of commitment from day one. Instead, what followed was confusion, indecisiveness, and a clear lack of structure all while the club slid steadily down the table.

With three matches left to play, Caen’s relegation is now mathematically confirmed. The club will officially join the third division next season, where they’ll face off against other notable names that have fallen from grace, including AS Nancy, Dijon, Valenciennes, and FC Sochaux. It will be a humbling environment for a club that once aspired to establish itself firmly in the top two tiers of French football. The drop will also carry serious financial consequences, from reduced broadcasting revenue to difficulties in attracting or retaining players and sponsors. For Mbappé, whose name was supposed to bring stability and credibility, the first year of ownership has turned into a case study of how timing, planning, and understanding a club’s needs are just as vital as good intentions.

What was meant to be a bold and symbolic project a superstar footballer investing in the grassroots of the game is now overshadowed by accusations of mismanagement and missed opportunities. Whether Mbappé and his team can recover from this rough beginning and bring Caen back up remains to be seen. But for now, as the club prepares for life in the third tier, the excitement that once surrounded the takeover has been replaced by frustration, disappointment, and questions that the new ownership will have to start answering immediately.