OGC Nice will ultimately have to play for its survival in Ligue 1 during the play-offs. Hooked by Metz during the 34th day played on Sunday evening, the Aiglons were unable to validate their direct retention, especially as the successes of Auxerre against Lille (0-2) and Le Havre against Lorient (0-2) reshuffled the cards in the race to maintain.
Le Gym will therefore play a decisive double confrontation against AS Saint-Étienne, on May 26 and 29. A meeting under high tension for a club initially equipped to aim higher, but now forced to defend its place in the elite in two decisive matches.
The disappointment is immense among the Nice supporters, who did not expect such a fight to remain despite the good run in the Coupe de France until the final. This frustration was visibly reflected on Sunday evening, at the Allianz Riviera, with an intrusion of supporters onto the pitch at the final whistle of Nice-Metz.
The fear of Jean-Pierre Rivère
Incidents likely to have serious disciplinary consequences for the Riviera club, currently 16th in Ligue 1, and which could in particular be forced to play the return play-off against ASSE behind closed doors. An option mentioned by President Jean-Pierre Rivère on Ligue 1+. “Maybe the incidents will lead us to play behind closed doors, we’ll see”he admitted, leaving doubt about the sanction.
Very marked by this end of the season, the Nice leader also expressed his disappointment with the behavior of part of the public: “I deplore the end, what happened. I believe that when you support a team, you have to do it until the end, then you will have time to get all the criticism in the world. When I see this end of the match, it’s a shame… The Coupe de France is no longer a priority at all. The most important thing is to stay in Ligue 1, there are two matches left for that, we will have to show a completely different state of mind, a different attitude. As long as there is hope, we must support the team”he insisted, calling for unity in this final sprint for maintenance.
