The first start of Grégoire Puel and the 4th goal of the season by Neal Maupay show that OGCN can rely on its substitutes and young players, as well as on its experienced players. A combination that has certainly worked well since the beginning of this Championship.
Puel? When mentioning this name, many Red and Black supporters would say Claude. It’s obvious, because the former Lille and Lyon coach has brought a lot to the club since his arrival and in a comparatively short time. His recruitment was smart. By taking lesser-known players but with technical skills above average, the Azurean team has finally found its place at the Stade du Ray as well as on many Ligue 1 pitches. But the former midfielder from the Rock also bet on young talents from the training center… and his own son, Grégoire.
We can mention Neal Maupay, as well as Alexy Bosetti, among these young players from the Nice training center. The Franco-Argentinian became the third youngest player to play in Ligue 1 at 16 years and 32 days, behind Laurent Paganelli (15 years and 10 months) and his fellow Center player Albert Rafetraniaina (16 years 27 days). With 4 goals in Ligue 1, the forward has already won the hearts of the fans. His decisive goal against Evian Thonon-Gaillard on Matchday 18 allowed the team to snatch victory in injury time. No one knew his number. Coming on with number 33 (1), he managed to make a name for himself within the squad.
The Azurean leaders quickly saw him as a rare gem and did not hesitate to have him sign his first professional contract. He leaves his number 33 as a trainee pro to Grégoire Puel, to take the number 18, like a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG (2). The son of the Nice coach had his first start in defense last week in Bastia. The calmness shown by the 21-year-old young defender did not surprise his teammates, sure of his capabilities.
The son followed in his father’s footsteps. Starting at the Lille training center, the son also moved to the Rhône to continue his learning. But sidelined by Rémi Garde and his staff due, according to him, to his father’s dismissal and the media buzz around the legal action taken against the club, it was therefore logical that the defender ended up on the Côte d’Azur. Starting with the reserve team, he managed to reach the pinnacle against Bastia. It’s not impossible to see the 21-year-old player again on the Ligue 1 pitches, or at least on the substitutes’ bench.
But no favoritism in the Red and Black dressing room, Claude Puel admitted that if he launched his son into the deep end, it was because he deserved it, and he put the context aside by prioritizing professionalism above all. He acknowledged that his son performed well, just like his fellow defenders (Renato Civelli, Timothée Kolodziejczak, Nemanja Pejčinović, Kévin Gomis, Romain Genevois).
The team can also count on experienced players in the midfield. Éric Bauthéac, one of the revelations of Ligue 1 last year with Dijon, even if his club went back to the second division. Fabrice Abriel, Camel Meriem, Jérémy Pied, Mahamane Traoré, Kévin Anin, or Captain Didier Digard are good ball distributors for Dario Cvitanich, the good find, top scorer of the club and 3rd in L1 with 12 units.
And what about Valentin Esseyric, neglected by Claudio Ranieri at Monaco and loaned by ASM to OGCN with a purchase option, it didn’t take more to convince President Rivère to put the money on the table. The 20-year-old midfielder has already scored 8 goals with the club, including the most important, against Paris-Saint-Germain last December, which gave the Eagles victory over the top team on paper in the Championship. A well-oiled group, one-touch football, and midfielders easily pushing forward and a solid and difficult-to-move defense.
13th last year, near relegation in 2011, the Eagles are spreading their wings again. After the 25th matchday out of 38 in the Championship, OGCN already has as many points as in the last season (42). With safety assured, Claude Puel’s men can play more freely. The Eagles exceed all expectations placed on the club. With the reception of Reims this Friday, they will have another opportunity to shine in front of their audience. Supporters fully committed to the Red and Black cause, to perhaps see next year, their colors shine in Europe in a brand new setting…
