There was a time when OGC Nice did like everyone else and communicated the group of summons the day before the match. But that was before. Before every week, or almost, yet another injured person is added to the list of residents of the Rouge et Noir infirmary. Not that the Gym staff wants to dribble past the journalists, or deceive the opponent. The Nice coach is simply trying to put all the chances on his side by waiting until the last hours to formalize an absence.
This morning, it is Youssouf Ndayishimiye who is very uncertain. Or probably forfeit because of thigh pain. The same problem as Clauss and Abdi, the others absent in defense this evening. And new problems for Franck Haise, who must cope without his two best full-backs, nor even a seasoned replacement on the bench for his three-man defense. It is still necessary that he does not change his pattern…
Three or four behind?
“ I really liked our second period against Lille, repeated the Riviera coach in reference to 45 minutes played with a 4-man defense. We had problems in the first half, we fully deserved to come back twice after the break. But I don't tell my team to wait until the break to see what happens, and make a player or system change. I prefer that we be actors and active from the start, that we continue to have this will and get started.”
By starting with four behind, to keep a cartridge on the bench (Abdelmonem) in anticipation of the hazards against Strasbourg, and a week with three meetings, each more important than the other? It's not impossible. Like the preservation at kick-off of Ndombele who, like the Egyptian central defender, “followed a treatment and rehabilitation protocol during the break, and resumed collective training only this morning” his coach explained Friday.
Even more likely, Diop's first start in Ligue 1 a year later, almost to the day, the last before his problems with his right foot. “I'm hungry” repeated several times the one who will be suspended on Thursday, for the meeting in the Europa League. “I would have liked to play this match because we are quite vindictive about the European Cup. We did not get the results we hoped for. Sunday's match will put us in condition for the Rangers .”
And not only because the Alsatians (11es4 points from Nice) also play in blue. “Strasbourg is a very dynamic, young team, which takes the initiative and displays clear ideas of play. It is a very dangerous team in many aspects”, Haise redoubt. “Their youth sometimes fails them but I really like what they give off,” he also qualified with reference to the balance of goals scored/goals conceded for the Alsatians (20/22).
AS Monaco, PSG and Olympique de Marseille knew how to punish the opposing largess at the start of this 12e daytime. At the Gym to play.
