A good start and then nothing. Powerless, OGC Nice fell 3-1 at Parc Des Princes against PSG. A logical defeat conceded due to three flashes from the Swedish giant Ibrahimovic. It’s the third consecutive loss for Nice. Claude Puel wanted temperament, but he mostly got passivity.
On paper, the two teams do not play in the same league. Paris boasts one of the most impressive squads in Europe and has very high ambitions. Nice, despite finishing fourth last season, has a squad of quality but limited.
On the field, Claude Puel’s men are rightfully expected to lose against such teams. In this case, the result is no longer the question, but rather the manner and mindset. It’s a significant shortfall that needs to be addressed quickly to hope to achieve minimum objectives in Ligue 1. Claude Puel desired more “hate” from his players, a change in attitude and character. Yet, after this performance in Parisian territory, the impression is quite different. Starting the match encouragingly, the players appeared engaged. But, quite quickly, the Nice team gradually fell back until they were only defending.
In this position, the Eagles’ defense struggled, on the brink of breaking with each play. Luca Veronese delayed the inevitable several times until conceding his first goal to Ibrahimovic for the evening. On the right side, Van Der Wiel delivered a perfect pass to the Swede who tapped the ball in with the tip of his foot. PSG led 1-0 and could dictate the play as they wished. Pastore, Rabiot, or Cavani had fun without pressure against the poor team from the Riviera. The second goal arrived, inevitably. On a chipped pass from Ibrahimovic, Cavani latched onto the ball facing Luca Veronese, but the latter tripped him inside the box. A logical penalty was converted by Ibrahimovic, and Paris led 2-0.
Weak and overwhelmed with each acceleration, the Nice defense, aside from Pejcinovic, couldn’t hope for a different result than a defeat. The Gym did narrow the score with Pejcinovic on one of their rare actions, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic ultimately extinguished all hope of a comeback with a third, forceful header. The losing streak continues for Claude Puel’s men, after the two defeats in Bastia and against Bordeaux. Last season feels very distant, a far cry from this apathetic, spectating Nice. The issue is psychological, acting like a true virus on Nice’s play. A deep problem to solve before hosting Saint-Etienne without Cvitanich and Mendy.
Photo Credit: www.ogcnice.com
