Nice Premium: Virginie Rossetti, it seems calm has returned to the club. How have you experienced these last few days?
Virginie Rossetti: I have been at the Club for three years, and these recent days have been the most difficult ones I’ve lived through, along with those following last year’s loss in the final.
NP: Maurice Cohen retained as the president of OGC Nice. How do you feel about this turnaround?
VR: Obviously, I am delighted about this improbable turnaround, and I even think I can say that everyone here is happy. Maurice Cohen is a good President, who deeply loves this club, and believe me, he brings out the best in us every day with only one aim: OGC Nice. The rest and everything that happened among shareholders do not concern us.
From the perspective of being an employee of the Club and just putting myself in the shoes of a fan, I think that if I were to open the newspaper and learn about this change, I would have been reassured. I have been closely following the club for over twenty years. Up until 2001, like all fans of the Gym, I experienced multiple intrigues and disappointments from people placing their personal interest before that of the Club. So today, I am relieved and happy with this outcome.
NP: In your opinion, what needs to change in the red and black house to get back on track?
VR: What needs to change? The ranking!!!
I am convinced that with a bit more luck and realism, our team would not be in 19th place, simply because it does not deserve to be, and I believe all the coaches of teams we have played against agree, up to Gérard Houllier last weekend.
This 19th place is, in my opinion, an aberration!!
I take this opportunity to remind the people of Nice how important it is for them to support the team in this crucial end of the championship. Accordingly, to unify maximum support, each subscriber will receive an additional ticket in the stand of their choice for the match against Troyes on February 10th, an “extremely important” match as everyone knows.
Everyone to the Ray!!!
NP: You are at the forefront of the club’s communication. Don’t you think the club could do better?
VR: It is our goal every day to do better.
Sometimes situations, such as the one we just experienced, put emotions ahead of the way we communicate. It’s true that even here we were somewhat lost, so I can only imagine from the outside.
Otherwise, with our means, we are making progress. We now announce the matches on the 200 buses in the City of Nice, our subscribers are regularly informed by newsletter about the life of the Club. In fact, the goal is to do as much as possible while spending the least possible. This is what we strive to achieve.
This is the Maurice Cohen School!! (smiles) and it’s this policy that ensures the Club is financially sound today.
NP: What are the projects you are currently working on?
VR: We are working on various projects, but once again we are waiting to see how things turn out. A lot depends on the upcoming results, but in terms of immediate implementation, our matches are about to be broadcasted fully on our website.
NP: Finally, if you were to imagine an end to the season?
VR: I remember the last match against Metz last season; we had planned to end with fireworks and my “Nissart” side had prompted me to have the “Nissa la Bella” sung by the Corou de Berra during the final display. I could not have dreamed of a more perfect closure.
Being 0-1 down at halftime, we snatched victory, achieving an 8th place never reached in 17 years. The President thanking the audience on the microphone, players returning to the pitch and communing with the fans, everyone’s gaze turned to the sky. A truly great moment.
I have never doubted the team’s survival despite the pessimistic trend of the majority who already see us in Ligue 2.
I make a bet right here. Nice will play in Ligue 1 next season!!!
