Paris FC – OGC Nice: The Gym in search of their first goals

OGC Nice travels to the capital this Sunday to face Paris FC (3pm), on the occasion of the second matchday of Ligue 1. Still lacking in attack, the Nice side hope to truly launch their season, with a squad with no new absences to report.

No new injuries, no suspensions, Olivier Pantaloni will be able to count on his best players. Axel Witsel and Elye Wahi will indeed be in the squad, with possible playing time. The Nice coach prefers however a substitute appearance for the Belgian: “There are more chances of seeing him than Wahi.“

Regarding the long-awaited return of the Ivorian striker, he discusses the new status that accompanies it: “I saw his reception at the airport, it will do him good and give him important responsibilities. He knows that people are counting on him to perform just as well, or even better than last season.“

A well-stocked defensive sector…

A few days before the close of the transfer window, Pantaloni remains cautious about potential last-minute departures, particularly in the left defensive flank, where only Melvin Bard is fully available today. Ali Abdi is on the right track in his recovery phase, but is not yet guaranteed to return quickly.

“The concern is to think that there will be a last-minute departure and we won’t have time to replace him“, worries the coach. In this context, he assures that the management is prospecting the left-back market, Niels Nkounkou would moreover be one of the names considered.

In central defense, on the other hand, the Nice coach says he is well-stocked, praising Mohamed Abdelmonem in passing: “Since he’s been back with us, he’s showing very good things, I’m pleasantly surprised.” Regarding Melvin Bard, it’s also not impossible to see him play on the left side of the defense if he were to stay. As for Junior Mandza, a midfielder by training, his coach confirms he is leaving him in his current position for now: “He feels very comfortable in this position, he’s really enjoying it there.“

… and an attacking sector still looking for its bearings

After a first goalless match against Lorient, Gym is still in search of the right understanding to be more incisive. “We’re looking for the right balance between reassuring ourselves and taking offensive risks. It’s still a bit timid today, but we work on it every day“, insists Gauthier Hein, who was also present at the press conference.

The attacking midfielder discussed the expected contribution of Elye Wahi, and said he’s eager to discover him on the pitch: “He’s a big asset for us, and I believe I know the style of football he likes. I’ll try to create as many connections as possible with him, to put him in the best conditions and hurt the opponent.“

On his own role, he discusses a certain freedom in Pantaloni’s system: “What he asks me is positional play that allows to pin down the opponent to free up the wings. Also try to find combinations inside, being close to the striker. He gives me quite a bit of freedom and I know what I can bring.“

To create an alternative to Wahi and bring another dynamic, Gym’s coach also doesn’t rule out positioning Nathan Ngoumou up front. “It’s not the position he prefers, but he could bring us an interesting solution through his speed and power“, he explains.

Paris FC, the other ambitious project in the capital

Now under the leadership of Liam Rosenior, who had led Strasbourg to the Conference League, the Parisians come out of a draw at Troyes (0-0), and will also be keen to launch their season. With almost 80 million euros of investment, PFC is forming a team made up of young talents (Zabi, Koleosho…) and seasoned campaigners of the league (Pagis, Sinayoko). A recruitment that testifies to clearly European ambitions.

Olivier Pantaloni prefers however to be cautious: “Rosenior’s style of play may not yet be as well-oiled as it was at Strasbourg, but you can feel the ideas, the principles and the quality of the players. It could become a formidable team, but we prepare as we would for any other match.“

Jérémy Stinat will be the referee for this match at Jean-Bouin Stadium, this Sunday at 3pm.

Probable lineups

Paris FC: Trapp – Camara, Coppola, Mbow, Otavio – Matondo, Lees-Melou (C) – Kebbal, Pagis, Simon – Sinayoko

OGC Nice: Diouf – Mendy, Ndayishimiye, Mandza – Clauss (C), Everton, Coulibaly, Bard – Hein, Ngoumou, Diop