Football: before the reception of Valenciennes, Nîmes Olympique, a club and a coach in danger

Vintage photo: Nîmes Olympique's 2-0 against Boulogne-sur-Mer on October 23, with a goal by Abdeldjelil… Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

Nîmes hosts Valenciennes this Friday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Antonins, for the 19th day of the National. The club is threatened with relegation. And its coach, Adil Hermach, with losing his job…

Sometimes, you really have to hit rock bottom to start climbing back up. The Crocos don't have much left to dig, they are only two points ahead of the last and have two draws and five defeats in the championship. The last one, the worst, was last Friday in Châteauroux, at a red lantern that hadn't shouted victory for 11 games. All this (3-2 defeat) at the end of a nightmarish evening marked by the aggression of the Gard supporters in the stands, probably by Montpellier Ultras. And who injured four Gladiators.

A hundred days without victory, Adil Hermach like Napoleon ?

This Friday, January 31, it has been exactly one hundred days since Nîmes Olympique last won an official football match. 2-0 on October 23 against Boulogne-sur-Mer, still 2nd in the National league. “We have had poor performances, we are even less effective in front of goal and less solid defensively than in September-October”, the coach pleads guilty. Unlike Napoleon, Adil Hermach has not yet abdicated, even if he had his Waterloo in Berry.

“Every coach has a starting point and an end point. I'm not sure I'll go all the way, but I'm still fully into it, and capable of turning the club's situation around. I think I have the confidence of the players and the sporting director. Even without recruits, our weapons are enough to go after what we need to go after. Of course Nîmes will be in the National next season, with me… or not.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Save the coach… or not

Because if Sébastien Larcier, head of sports, wants to keep him in his position, discordant voices have been raised within the NO management. According to our information, if Rani Assaf has not moved for the moment, one of his right-hand men, Rafik Menni, is campaigning for change. The one who is deputy general manager of the club had been at the origin, with the success that we know, of the ousting of Nicolas Usaï in November 2022, as the current coach of Pau (L2) had recalled in our columns.

A “productive” meeting and a noted intervention

The last few days have therefore been very tense. On Monday, a crisis meeting between players and staff was deemed “productive”, even though “a meeting never scores points. The truth is this Friday at 7:30 p.m.”, recalls Hermach.

According to a source, one intervention was particularly striking. It was signed by Waly Diouf. According to the defender, there are no more excuses. For anyone. If the players want to save their coach, it seems like it’s now.

Probable teams

Nîmes. Simon – Labonne, Diouf, Mendy (cap), Paviot – Doukansy – El Hamri, Mexique, Picouleau, Beneddine – Abdeldjelil.

Substitutes: Iafrate, Akkal or Daoudi, Bouaoune, Amara, Camara.

Marcel is suspended.

Valenciennes. Michel (ex Croco) – Coeff, Touré, Dibassy (cap), Basse – Boissier, Masson, Sissoko – Boutoutaoui, Oyewusi, Camblan.

Replacements: Woundenberg, Poha, Traor, Antoine, Venema.

Diomandé is suspended, Buades (ex NO) injured.

I subscribe to read more