Following the defeat to Monaco in the French Cup last Sunday, Frรฉdรฉric Antonetti, the coach of Nice, was angry. Very angry. His players did not display the necessary mindset for a derby or a cup match. As a result, there was a lackluster elimination (1-0) even though the red and blacks had not lost in Monaco since 1996.
In the league, the Eagles are doing well. Comfortably positioned in eighth place, Nice is five points ahead of Lorient, their closest pursuer. Last year too, they had finished in the same position, after having been close to qualifying for Europe throughout the season. A strong performance given the limited resources of OGC Nice.
The Azurean club is therefore heading north on Saturday to face Valenciennes. This presents an opportunity to catch up with Lille and Paris, who are respectively two and three points ahead.
“19 finals for VA”
Upon joining VAFC at the beginning of January, Jean-Claude Darcheville, the former striker for Bordeaux and Glasgow, knew it would be a tight affair. Ranked 19th with a mere 15 points at the break, Antoine Kombouarรฉ’s team must play “nineteen finals” during the second half of the season. The mission to stay up started well last week on the pitch at Lorient. A 1-1 draw which boosts morale and gives them the desire to succeed in the challenge.
Ranked 17th in 2007 in their first season in the top flight and then 13th last year, Valenciennes had really progressed. However, the loss of their top scorer Steve Savidan during the off-season has undoubtedly had more of an impact on the club’s results than one might have thought. A few weeks ago, President Francis Decourriรจre asked the coach to get things back on track. That’s what he is trying to do, with the help of his players. Since the season resumed, they remain undefeated. 0-0 at Toulouse in the Cup (eliminated on penalties), 1-1 at Lens in a friendly last weekend, and the same score at Lorient. Valenciennes seems to be improving in terms of gameplay. But what really counts for staying up are victories. And it starts by being inflexible at the Nungesser Stadium. If they want to make it, the Eagles need to show the same commando spirit as Darcheville, Pujol, Belmadi, and their teammates.
