Nîmes Olympique: Crocos, ''the important thing is the 3 points''

La joie collective des Crocos faisait plaisir à voir sur le but d'Ali, félicité ici par le gardien Simon. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

Face à Versailles, Nîmes a rendu une copie correcte mais, surtout, gagné (1-0). Et saura s’en contenter.

Football is not boxing or figure skating, where accumulating good points – in the ring or on the ice – may be enough. No, with a round ball at your feet, accumulating good points on the green rectangle is not always enough.
On Friday, against Versailles (1-0), on the Antonins playing area, Nîmes Olympique was able to improve on the good marks in terms of accounting. And as in football, ‘’the important thing is the 3 points’, this success will also go very well. '

Nîmes, 10th in the standings, is already breathing easier

''Before the match, I told the players that I was happy that the pitch was not a pancake, surprised coach Adil Hermach in a post-victory press conference. To know if they would be able to make a correct copy ?''

Formose Mendy's partners (suspended against Sochaux, see echoes) obtained the victory. Without mention. What matters. A success that allows NO to already breathe better in the ranking, 10th with 7 points and 4 ahead of the red zone.

For the big flights, we will therefore wait a little longer. On this bumpy ground, the Nîmes nevertheless dared. Too much at times? Trying a little bit of ball exits like ‘’Man City’’ of Guardiola. Except that Diouf is not Ruben Dias and that Labonne is not Kyle Walker.

Hermach : ''In the first half, there were phases where, I know, it was scary'''

''In the first half, there were phases where, I know, it was scary, Hermach emphasizes.At some point, we're going to get punished, we're going to lose it and we're going to be told that we're worthless. But that's how it's going to be.''

Against a Versailles team that was quickly reduced to 10 (in the 40th minute) but that we imagine was playing more for survival than for the top 6, the Crocodiles sometimes gave themselves a scare, while also knowing how to be pleasant in the construction of certain actions.

What can we say about Ali Abdallah's goal (52nd minute), about Simon's pass from the centre, from his area and landing in the centre circle, directly at Ali's feet, breaking several Versailles lines in the process ? For once, the goalkeeper on loan from OM did the hand what City goalkeeper Ederson does with his foot.

At Villefranche, finally string together a second victory in a row

''It's a throw that I like to do, said Ngapandouentbu (his name). In addition, I have the confidence of the coach who asks me to do that a lot, too. At half-time, he told me to throw quickly. We worked well during the week. Tonight (Friday), this victory is very important to get off to a good start.''

In addition, finally, to travel well for NO ? Starting Friday in Villefranche, if possible, for the Crocos who are tough to play at home – three matches without defeat at the Antonins (2 wins, 1 draw) – but in away-night mode (2 losses). ''I am confident for Villefranche, continues Simon. Honestly, we're a good team, a real group, we have everything.''

Marcel, passer for Ali: ''It's the connection effect of the islands''

All that remains is to get this second victory in a row in the championship, in Villefranche. ''There, the objective is to start off on a good week of work, to do like last week, where it was very good. It paid off, we have to continue'', recalled midfielder Vincent Marcel, first assist of the season against FCV. '

''Of course I wanted to pass it to him, smiled the Guadeloupean in the mixed zone. It's the connection effect of the islands (Ali, from Reunion), it's a team effort.''

The latest echoes of the Crocos

SUSPENSION –For the 7th day, in Villefranche, Hermach will have to change his starting eleven once again. Forced, this time: ''We will have to deal with the suspensions, which start in Villefranche (Diouf), and with the fitness of each player, especially offensively. I need to feel that there is punch every time.'' Formose Mendy, for his part, will be suspended when Sochaux comes.
WINTER ALREADY – ''I call them November matches. When the pitch is like that, it's disgusting. That's what it looks like'', noted a slightly irritated crocodile technician after the match.
RESERVE – This Sunday in Lunel, on behalf of the 2nd of Regional 1, the crocodile reserve coach Mickaël Gas will be able to count on the reinforcement of certain elements of the pro group: goalkeeper Ichalalen, defenders Sbaï and Paviot, midfielder Lemaangr and attackers Laurens and Osei.

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