This whole season has been a long period of turbulence at OGC Nice and Franck Haise’s return to the Allianz Riviera opened up wounds that are yet to heal.
The former RC Lens manager left Nice in December, having reached an agreement with the new co-presidents Jean-Pierre Rivere and Maurice Cohen. The pair had replaced Fabrice Bocquet earlier that month. He was the victim of a sporting crisis, primarily, but also a much broader crisis that was unleashed when fans allegedly attacked players and staff at their training ground following a defeat to FC Lorient at the end of November.
Those attacks left Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi on sick leave. They would never return, leaving the club during the January window. By and large, Haise retained popularity with the Nice fans, prior to his departure and replacement by Claude Puel.
However, whilst he was well received by former staff and players, his welcome from the home fans was hostile. Haise wouldn’t have cared, however, as his side ran out 4-0 victors, giving way to angry scenes at the end of the match.
Club captain Dante was the only one to speak to the ultras. “With the supporters, we just said the truth about the situation. We are on an important mission. We have to have pride, a bit of aggression, and even bravery. It is a squad that is feeling the effect of the negative results and one that is less confident [as a result,” Dante said in a mixed zone interview attended by Get French Football News.
But whilst Dante tried to rally, he also pointed the finger. “This season has been difficult. We have to take responsibility now, but there are lots of people to blame for it. There are some who are still here, some who have left, some who are very far away. Those that suffer are us, our supporters,” he said.
Dante will retire in the summer and he said that he is willing to sacrifice his knees (which have already seen him miss several matches) in order to stave off relegation. Puel said that it will be “hard until the end” this season. Based on Sunday’s evidence, it could yet end in relegation.
