An hour after the press presentation, Maxime Le Marchand and Micka Séri met their supporters at Place Masséna and at the store for a signing session. A few fans came to meet Nice Premium. Here’s a glimpse of their opinions and hopes for the upcoming season.
It was far from the crowds of Ben Arfa’s presentation last January, but the two newcomers had their success. Nearly 150 supporters patiently awaited the end of the press conference, in front of the official store, to get their first photo with the central defender and/or the midfielder as well as an autograph on the cards prepared for the occasion by the club.
Meeting the supporters was the right moment to make a first assessment with the red and black fans of the summer transfer window. With already three new recruits, OGC Nice has been busy, which seems to delight the supporters. “So far, it’s looking pretty good, and I’ve heard there will be more. With this group, I think we can aim for around 10th place and maybe even better,” says Alexandre, 12 years old.
And one name comes up insistently, as you might have guessed: Hatem Ben Arfa. “He’s a real plus for the team. The Seri-Ben Arfa duo in the midfield can be a threat. We just need a striker. There’s a good chance we can play quickly and well,” smiles Louna, 16 years old.
For the last fan to express himself, Manuel, 42 years old, it’s the joy of the game that’s emphasized: “As long as the squad continues to express itself, we can offer promising play with such players. The recruitment is good; we just have to wait for the truth on the field and that crucial final move that was fatal for us last season.”
A hint of disappointment in the supporters’ comments comes from the departure of the “favorite” of the Nice fans, Eric Bauthéac (transferred to Lille), but that’s how life goes in a football club. As the saying goes: “Players come and go, but the institution remains.” It’s up to the 27 players in the current squad, training in the Jura, to stick to this phrase throughout the season.
Photo credit and more information at www.ogcnice.com
