In an unexpected statement during the traditional pre-match press conference on Wednesday, sports director Roger Ricort came forward to extinguish the controversy targeting Yéhvann Diouf. A message of unity immediately relayed by the Nice staff and locker room.
It was a scene as rare as it was unexpected that opened the media meeting on the OGC Nice side this Wednesday noon. Even before the statement by coach Olivier Pantaloni during the pre-match press conference for Brest-OGC Nice, sports director Roger Ricort presented himself spontaneously to journalists to clarify matters without “making a big deal out of it.” At the heart of his intervention: the situation of Nice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf, targeted by recurring criticism in the press and on social media since the start of the season.
Visibly affected by the atmosphere surrounding his last line of defense, the Azur leader wanted to stop what he describes as an unjustified escalation: “We decided this year to make a very united group and I feel there is still a certain persecution against him, whether in the press or on social media. I wanted to say that he is a very nice person, a guy very invested in the club. Of the nine goals he conceded this season, I think there are seven where he can do nothing about it at all.”
Downplaying recent mistakes by reminding that many Ligue 1 goalkeepers regularly make blunders, Roger Ricort made an appeal to OGC Nice supporters ahead of the upcoming matches at the Allianz Riviera.
“We shoot ourselves in the foot when he comes onto the field at warm-up at our place, he gets booed. We won’t have a very good season if we don’t have a calm goalkeeper in goal.”
A locker room and staff in support
On the sporting front, this institutional statement was immediately reinforced by OGC Nice’s coach. Olivier Pantaloni wanted to downplay the responsibility of his goalkeeper for the goal on the two goals conceded against Lyon, pointing more to a lack of marking and defensive reactivity.
“We have full confidence in him. All the players have full confidence in him,” insisted the coach. “Everyone knows his qualities. There is no reason why, because of a poorly controlled ball, he should be subject to so much criticism. He is aware that he could have done better, but he is not unduly affected.”
Same tone within the locker room. When questioned subsequently, international Algerian striker Mohammed Amoura also contributed his support, describing a valuable and irreproachable teammate on a daily basis. “He’s a good player and a very good goalkeeper. For me, there’s no problem.”
By standing as one behind Yéhvann Diouf, OGC Nice sends a clear signal; the serenity of the group and the pursuit of objectives this season will pass through the absolute protection of its last line of defense.
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