The season for OGC Nice is far from what the fans had hoped for. Struggling in the league, more focused on avoiding relegation than aiming for European spots, the Eagles need to find consolation elsewhere.
The end of the season is still a long way off, obviously, and it’s better to play at the casino than to try to predict what it will hold for the Red and Blacks. But after the victory in the Coupe de France on Wednesday (3-1 on the field of Nimes Olympique thanks to goals from R. Lopes and P. Lees-Melou), some are wondering if OGCN should focus the end of their season on the Coupe de France.
The best chance of reaching Europe next season
The situation in Ligue 1 (over 20 points from the podium) doesn’t encourage optimism in that regard, and seems to lead us straight to a mid-table finish in the championship at best. The shortest path to returning to Europe next season seems to be through the Coupe de France. Qualification for the round of 16 positions the Eagles just four matches away from the Stade de France for the Final. Just four matches for a gala night is dreaming big about Europe. It seems short and much more thrilling than the long end to the championship that awaits us.
The road is still very long
But of course, it won’t be easy, and it will largely depend on what the draw has in store for us. Facing an amateur club or one from National or Ligue 2 would obviously be much more manageable than having to travel to Parc, Lyon, or Lille, for instance. We must also avoid the pitfalls associated with difficult playing conditions (winter and its frozen pitches, the accumulation of matches and injuries, etc.) to hope to progress far in this Coupe de France, at the risk of suffering another disappointment and thus a rather bleak end to the season.
Start preparing for next season now
Regardless of the journey in the Coupe de France (independent of qualifying for the European Cup or not), it is essential to start preparing for the next season now, to avoid experiencing another difficult season in the league. To this end, the management and coaches need to adjust the squad in reasonable proportions. They must improve the overall level at certain positions, without completely overhauling everything. Try to integrate quickly young players with high potential to give them playing time and build their confidence.
In short, intelligent and effective recruitment, given the relatively limited means compared to other teams aiming for Europe with budgets far superior to OGC Nice. So let’s continue dreaming of a beautiful run in the Coupe de France. To start feeling the excitement for our team again! And find more news and updates about Nice and its region on our site Nice Premium.
