Frédéric Antonetti kept the secret right up to the end, and perhaps only the two key players know about the Nice coach’s decision regarding the position of last line of defense for the red and black team. So, Damien or Hugo, Grégorini or Lloris… a question that is stirring conversations from the official forums to the counter of Bar Antoine through the warm summer evenings.
Tomorrow, we will find out – liked or not – the secret kept by the Corsican mentor. We will have to wait until then to see who will be behind the gloves trying to maintain a clean sheet that would at least guarantee a point share on Mancelle soil. But after all, the optimists think, what does it really matter? The most important thing is having two goalkeepers capable of putting in good performances in a Ligue 1 where few mistakes are forgiven, by either the public or the media. Not all top-level teams have two very high-level goalkeepers in their squad, and after all, competition for the goalkeeper spot is not so unusual among clubs and national teams.
In Nice, it is Damien Grégorini and Hugo Lloris who are competing for the starting spot, and the choice will be as tricky as it is tough, especially since it is the opening match of a new season that sees OGC Nice sharp and well-prepared.
In the right goalpost, therefore, stands Damien Grégorini, born 27 years ago in Nice, 1.95m tall and weighing 90 kg, with more than 150 top-level matches and 2970 minutes of play in the previous championship. On the left goalpost, Hugo Lloris, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, 1.86m tall and weighing 73 kg, also originally from Nice, 5 matches in Ligue 1 and notably a runner-up in the 2006 League Cup. One of them will be the guardian angel of the Eaglets on the Léon Bollée stadium field against a Le Mans attack dreaming of exciting the fervent supporters of MUC 72.
Whoever ends up starting, it is certain that the utmost determination will be required to counter the swift Le Mans attackers like Lucau, Grafite, or Samassa. Thus, the match resonates as a test for a first day that all Nice residents hope will be as prolific as the fabulous end of last season.
Here’s to Damien and Hugo… and Nissa!
