Eliminated at home in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, the Gym is ninth in Ligue 1, ten points away from a qualifying spot for European competition. With five matchdays remaining in the championship, OGC Nice’s 2022/23 season already looks like a failure.
Even though 2023 began with elimination from the Coupe de France in Le Puy-en-Velay followed by the dismissal of Lucien Favre, the arrival of Didier Digard on the Nice bench immediately sparked a new dynamic within the club. After an impressive debut against Montpellier (6-1), the former captain of the Gym managed to instill game principles while relying on young players from the training center (Bouanani, Mendy, Amraoui). Excited by this renewal, the Eagles embarked on an impressive unbeaten streak, defeating Lille, Lens, and OM, then Ajaccio and Monaco one after the other.
OGC Nice was on a thirteen-match unbeaten run before entering this month of April where everything changed. The first match was against Angers, at the bottom of the standings with six consecutive losses, but the Eagles were nearly dominated in this match, resulting in a draw (1-1). Even though the Gym had already been conceding draws, it’s the one at Stade Raymond Kopa that seems to mark a new turning point. A poor performance and operation before hosting the leader, PSG, which precisely ended Nice’s unbeaten streak. After this first defeat of Didier Digard on the bench, the Niçois showed significant defensive fragility, partly responsible for the draw in Switzerland and the defeat in Reims. The emergence of a controversy involving Christophe Galtier and Julien Fournier didn’t help matters, but despite everything, the club remained optimistic and calm, aiming to win at home against Basel.
A historic result at Allianz Riviera could have saved OGC Nice’s season, but what was supposed to be a celebration turned into a nightmare. After taking the lead, Nice again faltered defensively, ultimately losing the match 1-2 in extra time. It was a terrible disappointment for all Gym fans witnessing yet another trophyless season. Only a qualification for a European competition could turn things around, but this new setback against Clermont almost extinguishes all hope. Eagles supporters now hope that lessons will be learned from this failed season for the upcoming one, as many things need to change.
