The Aiglons supporters have something to thrill in this last straight line of the season.
OGC Nice, undefeated for 10 matches in L1 and the arrival of Didier Digard on the bench, is 7th in Ligue 1 in ambush in the race for Europe.
Europe is precisely what awaits the Allianz Riviera this Thursday (9 p.m.).
Nice receives Sheriff Tiraspol in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League Conference, a week after its small but precious victory in Moldova (0-1).
To discover
Calendar and results Europa League
Calendar and results Europa League Conference
Admittedly, this is only the C4, less prestigious than the Champions League or even the Europa League.
But that did not prevent, last year, Marseille from igniting for his team, eliminated in the semi-finals.
"
It's an experience that can be exceptional
," appreciated Julien Sablé, Digard's deputy, at a press conference on Wednesday.
Sablé sees it as a potential "
showcase
", for a club and players who have "
a lot of ambition
".
The Nice course is “important for French football”
On the way out, on a lawn in (very) poor condition, the people of Nice quickly understood that the time was not for the show.
"
Winning on such a field is very positive,
" retained Digard.
For the return to the Côte d'Azur, Sablé promises a team that "
will focus on content
".
"
We can play as we are used to
," said defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
“
We know that we will probably have the ball, it will take a lot of speed of execution to create goal situations and be very good in counter-pressing
”, developed Sablé.
SEE ALSO -
Mostafa Mohamed's late-game equalizer at Nantes-Nice on March 12 (2-2)
Nice has not played a European quarter-final for more than 60 years, and its two eliminations at this stage by Real Madrid (1957 and 1960) in the Champions Club Cup, ancestor of the C1.
Nice is also the last French club competing in a continental competition this season.
"
It's something important for French football
," said Sablé.
France must defend its 5th place in the UEFA coefficient so that the third in Ligue 1 is, in the future, directly qualified for the Champions League, without going through the preliminary rounds.
"
But it is first for us and for the people of Nice that we will try to do the best
," recalled Todibo, whose name is whispered in the France team who will return to the field next week.
With West Ham, Villarreal or Lazio Rome still in the running, OGC Nice has sporting and financial reasons to want to do well in C4.
Especially since a coronation would give him a ticket for the Europa League.
A showcase of another standing.
