«We were taken away from this fourth place“Plagued the coach of Nice, Christophe Galtier, Saturday after the victory snatched by his team in Reims (3-2), in reference to the point withdrawn from the OGCN after the incidents which occurred during the match against Marseille end of August.
Les Aiglons finished the season in fifth place with the same number of points as Rennes (66), who are ahead of them on goal difference. They will therefore compete in a play-off to access the Europa League Conference while the Bretons will participate in the most prestigious and lucrative Europa League.
This outcome is not to the taste of the Riviera technician, who did not digest the withdrawal of a point inflicted on his club by the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League after the incidents which had led to the interruption of the match against OM at the Allianz Riviera on August 22.
«When the referee whistled, I thought we were fourth. And then, after a few seconds, I was told we were fifth, there was an emotional lift“began Galtier.
«My players had 20 wins and scored 67 points. That’s the reality. With 67 points, we would qualify directly for the Europa League. Instead of just being happy, I’m disappointed for my players, I have a very bitter taste because we were taken away from this fourth place“, he added.
The Nice coach nevertheless drew a positive assessment of the OGCN season: “When you have a season like that, with a Coupe de France final (lost 1-0 against Nantes), it’s a good season, even if we had some air pockets, even if we lacked consistency.»
«Exchanges will take place during the week to analyze the season cold and see how we can improve what has not always worked well. We will have a reflection with the owner on the contours of the workforce for next season in order to play this Europa League Conference play-off“, he concluded.