The year 2023 is (already) coming to an end, and it’s time to review a twelve-month period far from monotonous for the Aiglons.
The return of Lucien Favre didn’t last long in the end. Having come to help Nice last season, the coach, well-known here, was relieved of his duties on January 9 to make way for Didier Digard. He too is not unknown to the general public since he wore the Gym jersey for five years of good and loyal service.
In the jargon, this is called a gamble. For 14 matches (all competitions included), the Gym did not concede a match, before falling to PSG on April 8 last. Here are the beginnings of a next season marked by invincibility, as we will see later. Returning to Digard, it’s clear that he saved the club from a certain crisis, bringing the team back to 9th place to conclude the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately for the young coach, this wasn’t enough to secure him a contract extension.
A discreet yet highly effective transfer window
From Barkley to Stengs and Brahimi, departures multiplied on the Nice side, without any arrivals for several weeks. With the exception of Francesco Farioli as a coach, it was very quiet, so quiet that Florent Ghisolfi’s transfer window began to seriously worry Gym supporters.
And then suddenly… OGC Nice officially announced its first two signings at the end of July with Jérémie Boga and Morgan Sanson coming to strengthen the group. It seems slim on paper, but the team could count on a lineup that hasn’t really changed. Schmeichel left to make room for the young and talented Bulka, captain Dante stays on, Todibo and Thuram, the French gems coveted by Europe, also don’t move, and the attack is freed from Dolberg… In summary, it’s coherent.
“To write a beautiful and new chapter at OGC Nice”
Francesco Farioli
One thing is certain, the philosopher, since converted into a coach, didn’t come to Nice for a vacation. Consider this: second place in the championship at the break with 10 wins, 5 draws, and one loss, the best defense in Ligue 1 (9 goals conceded), the second-best defense in Europe, 11 clean sheets, defeating the Parisian leader as well as AS Monaco, 3rd in the ranking… Still want more? The Gym is the first team in the history of the championship to not have been behind in the score in its first 13 matches of the season. After the “gamble,” here comes the “masterstroke”!
These dizzying figures reflect a reality that wasn’t obvious to grasp this summer: Gym is a title contender, podium say the more pessimistic, for Europe there is little doubt anymore.
The Youcef Atal controversy
The Algerian international made headlines off the field following a post deemed antisemitic on social media. On October 12, he shared a video of a Palestinian preacher calling for “a black day for the Jews.” Since then suspended by his club, he has just been sentenced by the court to 10 months of suspended prison time and a €45,000 fine. The player, who has also publicly apologized, is not expected to wear the Gym jersey again. Nonetheless, several clubs are reportedly interested in him.
What if?
What if OGC Nice clinched the top spot in the championship at the end of the season? Five points behind PSG, the gap doesn’t seem so insurmountable between a Parisian team in transition and Aiglons quite sure of their strength. The team showed strong character after its two defeats against Nantes and Le Havre by securing victories afterward. Watch out for Monaco, which is seriously pushing.
Further on, Nice’s campaign in the French Cup will be closely followed, as the winter transfer window promises to be lively, with the team being weakened in view of the CAN (Africa Cup of Nations).
