Ligue 1: Nice’s Top Players Urged to Step Up Before Final Sprint
The coach of French football club, Nice, Franck Haise, has called on his team’s top players to raise their game ahead of the final stretch of the Ligue 1 season. With the team struggling to find form, Haise has issued a stern warning to his players, stating that they can no longer afford to rely on past performances.
According to reports from Le Figaro, Haise expressed his concerns about the team’s current state, saying: "Est-ce qu’ils sont suffisamment mes relais? S’ils l’étaient, on n’en serait pas là" ("Are they sufficiently my relays? If they were, we wouldn’t be in this situation"). The coach’s comments come as Nice prepare to face Strasbourg on Saturday, with the team seeking to end a poor run of form that has seen them take just one point from their last 12.
The Nice coach believes that his team faces a significant challenge in Strasbourg, a match in which they will be considered outsiders. "Strasbourg est un défi magnifique, où on est vraiment outsider," he said. "Vu les dynamiques, on doit logiquement perdre, observe-t-il. Mais si cette série négative devait perdurer un match de plus, ça serait plus compliqué (pour l’Europe, Ndlr)" ("Strasbourg is a magnificent challenge, where we are really outsiders. Given the dynamics, we should logically lose. But if this negative series were to continue for one more match, it would be more complicated for Europe").
Finding a Collective Mindset
Haise’s primary concern is to find a collective mindset within his team. "C’est au moment où on a le plus de monde, qu’on a perdu notre force collective," he said. "Ce n’est jamais anodin. Ce sont les attitudes, les comportements" ("It’s at the moment when we have the most people that we’ve lost our collective strength. It’s never trivial. It’s the attitudes, the behaviors"). The coach believes that his team has lost its way and that it’s not just a matter of individual players stepping up. "S’il nous manque des choses ces dernières semaines, c’est parce que tous ne mettent pas toute leur énergie positive au service de l’équipe," he said. "Si vous voulez avoir des résultats, cinq ou six joueurs ne suffisent pas" ("If we’re missing things these past few weeks, it’s because not everyone is putting all their positive energy at the service of the team. If you want to have results, five or six players aren’t enough").
The Role of Leaders
At the start of the season, Haise established a council of elders within the dressing room, led by captain Dante and including players such as Marcin Bulka, Pablo Rosario, Morgan Sanson, Gaëtan Laborde, and Jérémie Boga. While some of these players have been injured for long periods, they are now available for selection. However, Haise believes that the team’s leaders have not been doing enough. "Les leaders ont leur importance," he said. "Mais il y a un manque" ("The leaders have their importance. But there’s a lack"). The coach believes that his team’s leaders, including Boga, need to take more responsibility. "A un moment, on doit plus échanger avec le groupe, faire parler notre expérience," Boga said. "On se parle de plus en plus, on se dit les vérités les uns, les autres. Elles sont parfois difficiles mais on est professionnels. C’est pour le bien collectif" ("At some point, we need to exchange more with the group, make our experience speak. We talk to each other more and more, we tell each other the truths. They’re sometimes difficult, but we’re professionals. It’s for the collective good").
A Call to Action
Haise’s comments have not been well received by some players, but he believes that a reaction is necessary. "Ce qui me fait le plus peur, c’est que je ne retrouve pas un groupe qui a envie de performer ensemble," he said. "C’est ma crainte. Si je retrouve ça, il n’y aura pas de regrets" ("What scares me the most is that I don’t find a group that wants to perform together. That’s my fear. If I find that, there will be no regrets"). The coach is counting on his players to respond to his calls for improvement, and he believes that they can still achieve their objectives. As Boga said: "On n’a plus de joker" ("We don’t have any more jokers"). The Nice player believes that those who have missed many matches or had a complicated season due to injuries are eager to finish strongly and help the club achieve its objectives. "Ceux qui ont raté beaucoup de matches, eus une saison compliquée en raison des blessures, comme moi, ont envie de finir fort pour aider le club à atteindre ses objectifs," he said. "C’est très excitant" ("Those who have missed many matches, had a complicated season due to injuries, like me, want to finish strongly to help the club achieve its objectives. It’s very exciting").
The team at Le Figaro report that Haise has been trying to motivate his players by changing some of the team’s routines at training. The coach is hoping that his team can turn their season around and achieve a positive finish. With six matches remaining, Nice’s players will be looking to respond to Haise’s calls for improvement and secure a strong finish to the season.
The Ligue 1 season is heating up, and teams are fighting for their positions in the table. Nice’s players will be looking to put in a strong performance against Strasbourg and make a push for a European spot. Will they be able to respond to Haise’s calls for improvement and secure a positive finish to the season? Only time will tell.
The Nice coach’s determination to get his team back on track is evident, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the coming weeks. The team’s leaders, including Boga, will be looking to take on more responsibility and lead the team to a strong finish. With the right mindset and a bit of luck, Nice may yet achieve their objectives and secure a positive finish to the season.
In conclusion, Le Figaro report that Nice’s coach, Franck Haise, has called on his team’s top players to raise their game ahead of the final stretch of the Ligue 1 season. With the team struggling to find form, Haise has issued a stern warning to his players, stating that they can no longer rely on past performances. The coach believes that his team faces a significant challenge in Strasbourg and that his players need to find a collective mindset to achieve their objectives. Will they be able to respond to Haise’s calls for improvement and secure a positive finish to the season?
