Think of the family – Nantes coach pleads for Sala search to recommence

Nantes coach Vahid Halilhodzic has pleaded with authorities to resume the search for his missing former player Emiliano Sala.

Guernsey Police on Thursday ended their search for Sala, who was on board a Piper Malibu aircraft with pilot David Ibbotson when the plane went missing en route to Cardiff from Nantes on Monday.

Striker Sala completed a move to Cardiff City the day before and had been back in France bidding farewell to his colleagues at Nantes.

Search and rescue efforts had spanned three days without a trace of the plane before the authorities opted to call a halt to their scanning of the area.

 Vahid Halilhodzic : “On est plus que jamais unis (…) Ce Club est un monument. Il a une tradition, une culture, c’est une grande famille.” #ESSGFCN pic.twitter.com/uXNIfMFID7

— FC Nantes (@FCNantes) January 25, 2019

But Sala’s sister urged for the search to continue, and her plea was echoed by those of fellow Argentinian footballers Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Gonzalo Higuain, with Halilhodzic joining the chorus.

“We cannot let the search stop like this. It’s unbearable and unacceptable to me, imagine [how it is] for the family,” Halilhodzic told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s Coupe de France meeting with Entente.

“We [the club] are more than ever united, this club is a monument, it has a tradition, a culture, it’s a big family.

“We have to prepare for the match, even if we are in a situation. The club is shocked, but will continue to work.

“We are a bit traumatised, but we must continue to live, to move forward.”