2023-12-19 13:41:24
The OGCN, in the midst of sporting and extra-sporting turbulence, but still runner-up to Paris despite two defeats in three matches, hopes to finish 2023 well by hosting Lens, undefeated for 11 matches, this Wednesday evening at the end of the first leg of the League 1.
This first part of the season was not easy to manage for the management of the Nice club. The trial of the former coach, Christophe Galtier, tried for harassment and discrimination, mainly against Muslim players, which took place on Friday, 24 hours before the defeat conceded in Le Havre (3-1), followed that of Youcef Atal, Monday, 48 hours before the Lensois reception.
The Algerian international, 101 L1 matches with the Aiglons, was judged for “incitement to hatred on grounds of religion”, after sharing a 35-second video calling for “a dark day for the Jews“. If the player pleaded clumsiness, the prosecution requested a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros against him.
He will know the verdict on January 3. And if it is unlikely to see him play again for Nice as this episode has gained momentum, particularly politically, his situation has dampened the atmosphere in a locker room where he is a valued teammate.
Against Lens, the attitude of each Niçois will be scrutinized
Against Lens, the attitude of each Nice player will be scrutinized, particularly that of those closest to Atal. Because last Saturday, that of the French international Jean-Clair Todibo, excluded after having reacted violently against Samuel Grandsir, author of a mistake which still injured him, betrayed the ambient nervousness.
Todibo’s relationship with Galtier had, in fact, been discussed at length in the criminal court the day before. Enough to affect a player. If Nice coach Francesco Farioli then dismissed the problem out of hand, he now admits the complexity of the overall situation.
«We have experienced very complicated times in recent months with, in particular, extra-sporting problems that are very difficult to manage.», he agrees, also referring to the great distress experienced by Alexis Beka Beka, who threatened to commit suicide at the end of September, and to the fear which ensued within the club.
Mental wear and tear
This heavy context is enough to amplify the mental wear and tear already apparent on the field, at the end of the first leg. “There may be fatigueunderlines Farioli. Our style of play requires courage and effort. To be dominant, there is never a moment of rest on the pitch, with or without the ball. This requires a lot of energy.»
Its captain, Dante, is more forthcoming on the issue. “Fatigue is mental, but it affects the body, he explains. If your head is not fresh, you won’t succeed, even if your physique is top-notch. Against Reims (2-1), for example, we ended up sticking out our tongues.»
«This fatigue is not only due to the game model, he insists. It’s a whole thing: playing at the top of the table and keeping the distance from the pursuers costs a lot of energy. I don’t remember a match won by managing the last 20 minutes. When you finish with just one goal in advance, the opponent pushes and you play on the edge without being able to miss, it weighs a lot.»
«So you can lose a little lucidity, you do things that were not planned“, he continues again, before asking his family to “refaire un ’’clean sheet’’» (a match without conceding a goal). The Brazilian, however, tempers the observation, judging that “Nice have only missed one match this season“, the last.
Deliberately positive and happy already to have ensured the truce “an unexpected podium at the start of the season“, the young forty-something even considers the team capable of “regain mental freshness» et «a vengeful spirit» against Lens «concurrent direct” In “a six-point game».
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