Tuesday morning, the players doubled their dedication on the training field at the Charles Erhmann sports park, and Frédéric Antonetti, the coach of the Aiglons, increased the intensity in his voice and gestures. The focus is on the crucial home game against Bordeaux on Saturday. Just a few meters away at the club’s headquarters, the activity is just as frenetic. Suits replace tracksuits. But the sport remains!
In the corridors, one encounters Franck Guidicelli. Very busy yet relaxed, he inaugurates his new role within OGC Nice. He is now “co-president” and is in charge of sports matters. The coming days and weeks will clarify his role. He will have Roger Ricort by his side for advice. There was no revolution. You don’t change a team that managed a draw against the Lyon giant last Saturday. Franck Guidicelli also reaffirmed his trust in Frédéric Antonetti: “What counts is the unity of the club. I position myself as a unifier so that everyone does their part to keep Nice in Ligue 1,” declared the young president during Monday’s press conference.
Maurice Cohen, the other “co-president,” hasn’t changed his habits: he remains as busy but accessible. The same office, the same view of the training happening beneath his window, and the same determination: “We needed unity around the club and for all of us to be mobilized. Winning our matches is our only concern.” He does not wish to revisit the turnaround of this weekend. All that is past and has been extensively discussed in the newspapers. He is content with a phrase to celebrate the conclusion: “Wisdom prevailed,” and a jab at the OGC Nice association led by Ange Ferracci: “The people at the head of the association create tensions. I’ve explained the problem causing a lot of internal concerns that must be resolved.”
Just another episode of a sitcom named OGC Nice, where it’s not always smiles and joys. The necessary administrative adjustments have been made. Now, it’s time for the sports adjustments. The triumvirate of Ricort-Cohen-Guidicelli, with Frédéric Antonetti’s prerogatives, is on the job and starts their first sprint. The return of the great Sammy Traoré was mentioned but quickly dismissed: “Paris does not want it. He will not come.” A few hours remain. After midnight on January 31st, it will be impossible to recruit a player. Tuesday was very active (departure of Grégorini and arrival of Létizi) and Wednesday will be devoted to finding a striker with some leads considered, but strategy dictates and to avoid having the rare bird snatched away, no names will be disclosed.
Apart from match dates, Maurice Cohen has highlighted an important day for the club: February 15th. It is on this day, a little before or after, that the city hall will give or withhold approval of the stadium project presented ten days ago to Jacques Peyrat: “It is completely different. It is realistic and economical, without a training field and a bit on the English model. We need to accelerate the process; otherwise, the club cannot develop.”
Maurice Cohen is back, and so are the supporters, as if the two were linked. He will forever be the president who brought the Stade de France to 28,000 people from Nice. He pays special attention to them and shows understanding for their strike movement: “We missed them. They defend a fight, ideas, and that’s legitimate.” The unity to keep the club in L1 mentioned by the two co-presidents encompasses the support of the fans. As a token of gratitude, a ticket will be offered to each subscriber for the crucial game against Troyes in ten days, so that the crisis can be spoken of in the past tense and the present mood between the staff, shareholders, players, and supporters is one of calm.
