Nîmes Olympique: to stay up, “we're going to have to get our asses moving”, says crocodile coach Adil Hermach

Issam Bouaoune, here in front of Esteban Mouton from Aubagnais, and the Crocodiles have remained silent five times out of seven away from home. MAXPPP – Jean-Yves Cadeddu

Nîmes Olympique and its coach Adil Hermach, who no longer know how to win and have the same number of points as the first relegation spot, are under pressure.

“We're going to have to get our asses in gear to leave Nîmes Olympique in the National.”This is said and well summed up by Adil Hermach, even if you had to listen carefully. Saturday evening, after the setback in Aubagne (2-0), the voice of the crocodile coach had trouble carrying. Even more than usual.

The National ranking

The disappointment and frustration were great. The “anger”, too. Anger after a few refereeing decisions – “The generous free kick” that led to the first Aubagne goal, Abdeldjelil's shot that would have crossed the line after hitting the crossbar – and the adverse fate that is haunting his team, 15th with the same number of points as the first relegation-prone team (Versailles).

“We can't be so penalized by playing games like that”, whispered the Gard technician on the athletics track that surrounds the pitch at the Lattre-de-Tassigny stadium.

Too many clumsiness

“We are able to win every match and sometimes by a wide margin, agrees Sébastien Larcier. Unfortunately, we never have the right to make a mistake. We are punished for every ball given back or every foul conceded. I don't know if it's work, bad luck or something we don't do as well, but it's hard to take, the frustration is growing. I've never had a season like this, where things never go right.”

I don't play Fifa, I don't have a directional cross to be able to send the ball to the side…

Saturday, facing a clinical Aubagne team, Nîmes again sinned in the finishing. Hermach pointed out “too many clumsinesses” and admitted his impotence: “If there is one thing where the coach has no leverage, it is when the guy puts his foot on the ball and he hits it. I don't play Fifa, I don't have a directional cross to be able to send the ball to the side… “

Les échos des Crocos

Suspension. Le Mans, Nancy, Aubagne: Vincent Marcel has received three yellow cards in the last four matches. Consequence: he will be suspended in two weeks, for the reception of Valenciennes (19th matchday, January 31).

Also yellow carded Saturday in Aubagne, Mehdi Beneddine, finds himself under threat of a third warning synonymous with automatic suspension.

Châteauroux. On Friday, January 24, the Crocos will challenge the bottom team Châteauroux, the first match of the return phase. A crucial meeting: “IWe will have to take points, it's starting to be urgent", Adil Hermach does not hide.

The Châteauroux team, who concede an average of 2.3 goals per match (37 in total, only 1 clean sheet achieved), have the worst record at home (2 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses). And Nîmes Olympique has the worst away from home, tied with… La Berrichonne!

The Crocodiles have travelled seven times, they have only scored twice, at Boug-Péronnas (2-1) and Paris 13 Atletico (1-1). “The solutions are not coming”, laments Sébastien Larcier, who admits to being “worried”. Worried because “the problems remain the same, that we identify them, that we work on them, that we put things in place and that it doesn't work”.

Putting things back in the right order, defending well and then attacking well

If the attack is singled out, the defense is not left out. The last clean sheet dates back to the reception of Le Mans (0-0, 14th day). “We have to be more solid, stop conceding goals, continues the Nîmes sporting director. We have to find our defensive efficiency again, be harder to maneuver at the back, more fierce in duels. We need to put things back in the right order, defend well and then attack well.”

Adil Hermach “for now” not in danger

Necessarily responsible for his team's poor results, is Adil Hermach in danger ? “No, not for now, replies Sébastien Larcier. I speak with the executives, the group is always behind him. When the message gets through, there is no reason to cut off heads.”

President Assaf would be on the same wavelength: “He didn't call me to tell me that we had to change coaches.”

Thinking about the methodology

What to do to get by, knowing that no one will arrive during the winter transfer window to strengthen a limited squad ? “We need to think about the methodology, perhaps be less dominant, suggests the crocodile sports director. In any case, we have to take points, so stop losing.”

“I'm going to have to dig, reposition some players who are more skillful than others, relieve some”, said Adil Hermach, still “convinced that we'll get there with this team”. Maybe, but we're going to have to get moving…

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