OGC Nice has entered the second phase of its preparation with less groundwork but more intensity. The team is also embarking on a series of three friendly matches in a week, providing an opportunity to conduct a squad review with good spirits prevailing.
The Nice squad has evolved slightly between the end of last season and the new one that started 3 weeks ago. There have been departures (Abriel, Pejcinovic, Brüls, Bruins, and possibly Ospina) and two arrivals (Hult and Vercauteren). Despite last season’s challenges (17th place), the group seems to be starting on a solid foundation.
“During the first training camp in Divonne, I found a quality group, attentive. The young players bring a certain enthusiasm and the newcomers bring freshness,” analyzes coach Claude Puel. This involvement is evident in training exercises where players like Bosetti and Kolodziejczak, among others, did not want to lose any games.
As proof of the good atmosphere within the group, Julien Vercauteren, Alexy Bosetti, and Eric Bauthéac called former OGC Nice subscribers to persuade them to renew their subscriptions (https://www.ogcnice.com/fr/medias/tv/20975/le-coup-de-fil-surprise).
An important moment that helps integrate the new players coming from Belgium and Sweden for Niklas Hult. “I am very satisfied with the two newcomers. They have acclimated well. They are generous and have a good spirit,” delights Claude Puel.
For their third preparation match, Nice will face a major team from Ligue 1 this Wednesday, the reigning French champion, Paris-Saint-Germain (7 pm at Stade de la Méditerranée in Béziers).
A match whose result will not matter, as the coach reminded during a press conference: “We will see where we stand in our preparation. It is important to assess ourselves physically and tactically against such an opponent. More than the result, the content will be interesting.”
Following this, OGC Nice will embark on a four-day training camp across the Channel with two friendly matches on the schedule (Brentford, Saturday, July 26th at 5 pm BST and Norwich, Monday, July 28th at 8:45 pm BST).
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