Nîmes Olympique: “We need to find that extra bit of soul”, says Mehdi Beneddine before the reception of Valenciennes

Most used player, Mehdi Beneddine, here in action against Nancy and Julloux (1-2), on January 10 at the Antonins, and the Crocos will have to “redouble their efforts” to stay up. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

Before the reception of Valenciennes, Friday, for the 19th day of National, the croco defender Mehdi Beneddine discusses the complicated situation of his team, in a relegation position.

Nîmes finds itself relegated after eighteen days. Is this surprising and how can it be explained? ?

I really didn't expect to experience such a season. Given the preparation matches and the first days of the championship, I thought we wouldn't suffer. Without talking about promotion, there was a way to have a good little championship. This is not the case.

Why ? Because we lack things, it's undeniable, the truth in both areas. In a good half of our matches, we deserved better but the numbers don't lie. We can't hide behind the fact that we play pretty good football. The reality of the National is that the best teams are not always the ones that perform.

The 19th day and the National ranking

So should you change your way of playing?

It's not a question of playing well or playing badly. What we see is that we are not decisive enough, that we cannot punish the opponent, to hurt him during our strong moments. We need three times more chances than the others to score and the others need three times less to punish us!

The team never knew how to hook the right wagon, which would have allowed it to evolve in a more liberated way. The twists of fate and the decisions were often against us. The invalid penalty whistled in added time against Sochaux (1-1, 8th day) hurt us psychologically.

I don't want to be one of the players who will remain in the club's history if it were to go down to N2

Do you now play with fear in your stomach? ?

No, there is not necessarily fear, but a little restraint, yes, sometimes. We don't always play our shots to the fullest, we perhaps think more about what will happen if we miss. A victory, even by forceps, would be enough to reverse the trend and restart the machine. In any case, we can't hide anymore. Today, for us, all matches are crucial.

A change of system ?

&Apart from Lemaangr (knee), all the Crocos are operational. Sick on Monday and Tuesday, Bouaoune returned to play this Wednesday, January 29. Absent, Mexique and Akkal had just been rested.

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To face Valenciennes, Nîmes will recover Mendy, Picouleau and Akkal, who were not on the last trip to Châteauroux, but will be deprived Marcel, suspended.

Adil Hermach may abandon his 4-4-2 diamond formation to play his team in a 4-1-4-1. Beneddine was used as a left midfielder this week. If he were actually positioned a notch higher, Paviot would then play left-back. On the right wing, three players are competing, Camara, El Hamri and Bouaoune.

The probable team: Ngapandouetnbu – Labonne, Diouf, Mendy, Paviot – Doukansy – Camara (or El Hamri, or Bouaoune), Mexique, Picouleau, Beneddine – Abdeldjelil.

Is the group still behind coach Adil Hermach ?

Of course! He and the entire staff put us in the best conditions. The actors are us, the players. Football is eleven guys on the field and 90 minutes of playing hard.

What is the solution to get out of this?

There aren't 36,000 of them, we have to redouble our efforts. Everyone has their share of responsibility, everyone must analyze their performances and improve what they do less well. We put ourselves in this “shit”, we will only get out of it by ourselves.

We are in an emergency situation but there are still fifteen days and 45 points to take. There is no need to bury ourselves or give up or else we have to stop playing football! On the contrary, we have to roll up our sleeves and go into battle.

Does this group have the qualities, precisely, to go into battle, does it not lack character ?

We are perhaps too nice, we perhaps lack character but not all the time. I sense revolt in this group which is not down, which is diligent, which works. But, it is true, we do not have this extra soul, for the moment. We must find it.

What is an extra soul ? It's the tackle to prevent a shot or a corner. It's the extra meter to go that can allow you to touch the ball with the tip of your foot and score. It's doing a little more, each of us, at our own level.

Against Valenciennes, Friday, you might play a notch higher…

On the set-up, for the moment, that's it, yes. It's not my best position but if the coach thinks that I can help the team, there's no problem. It can allow me to project myself more and be decisive. Because until now, I don't have any stats (1 assist, Editor's note) related to everything I've tried.

Will Nîmes stay up?

I'm convinced that we're going to do it. I'm from Nîmes, my whole family lives here, I don't want to, I can't be one of the players who will remain in the club's history if it were to go down to National 2.

Nîmes Olympique (16th, 15 points) – Valenciennes Football Club (8th, 24 points), Friday January 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stade des Antonins. I subscribe to read the rest