MHSC-Nice: very much diminished, almost eliminated from the European Cup, the Aiglons are still flying in the championship

Vainqueurs du Havre (2-1) le week-end dernier, les Niçois restent en embuscade du top 5. MAXPPP – Frantz Bouton

Avant-dernier en Ligue Europa, Nice fait le dos rond face aux blessures. Et maintient le cap en L1 sous la direction d’un Franck Haise adopté avant de défier Montpellier, ce dimanche 15 décembre.

Doctor Europe, Mister Championship. It's a bit of an exaggeration, but Nice is playing opposites this season. Coached since this summer by the former Lens druid, Franck Haise, the Aiglons are flying low in the Europa League, from which they are almost eliminated, but are finding height in a Ligue 1 where they remain in ambush of the top 5. As if they had to choose their fight in a campaign where injuries are counted by the dozens.

The Ligue 1 ranking

This Sunday, OGCN should have at least ten absentees. There were thirteen who missed the trip to Union Saint-Gilloise (2-1) on Thursday. Like MHSC, Nice has been suffering in its bodies since the start of a season that began without Jérémie Boga (thigh) and especially Morgan Sanson (ankle) and Terem Moffi (knee). The latter two are not expected on the pitches before the start of 2025. Like the indefatigable Brazilian captain, Dante, 41, indispensable but stopped by a meniscus injury.

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So Nice is keeping its head down, its coach first and foremost. After four and a half years at the heart of a Racing Club de Lens brought from L2 to the Champions League, Haise arrived on the Côte d'Azur with his staff and the desire to reproduce the model applied in the North. “The main principles: having a team that is a protagonist, that seeks to move forward, that has energy and that creates emotions. That is the objective”, had listed the successor of Francesco Farioli, during his presentation.

Ineos, so close so far

Far from the Italian's philosophy, patient or even passive, that of Haise, unanimously adopted, has been seen in sequences. It allows the Niçois of Evann Guessand, revelation and in the sights of the MHSC in the past, to present the 3rd attack of the championship (26 goals scored) or to display a real character. As proof, these numerous matches during which they were led before winning or snatching the draw (Lille, Monaco, Strasbourg, Twente).

The figure: 1/5

In their first five Europa League matches this season, Nice have lost just once, at Lyon (1-4), three days after being thrashed by Glasgow Rangers (1-4). In the previous four, the Aiglons have drawn at Lens (0-0), against Paris (1-1) and Lille (2-2) – or won against Monaco (2-1). And after Union Saint-Gilloise, challenged on Thursday?

But physical problems forced the Norman, who suffers from high blood pressure, to change his favorite system, with three defenders. While it did not hinder progress in L1, this forced adaptation did not pass in C3. Swept away in Rome by Lazio (4-1), or in Nice by Glasgow Rangers (1-4), Gaëtan Laborde's team is in 35th place out of 36, behind FS Riga, FC Karabagh or Ludogorets Razgrad. Not really the expected flashiness of a club owned by Ineos.

Except that the British petrochemical giant is there without being there. Its other team, Manchester United, is also involved in the Europa League, UEFA has forced Jim Ratcliffe's group to choose. He has distanced himself from Gym, placed in management autonomy for a year. Nice is therefore keeping its head down, not so far from its objectives, despite everything.

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