Nîmes Olympique: lacking points, the Crocos must keep the clock ticking at Le Mans

Thanks to Freddy Mbemba, scorer against Rouen, Nîmes' game, now more direct, has gained in percussion and speed. The arrivals of Camara and Sané should accentuate the phenomenon. Midi Free – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Relaunched after their success against Rouen (2-0) a week ago, the Crocos, in a relegated position, must continue at Le Mans, this Friday, February 2, for the 19th day of National.

The Crocos found some color by ending a series of six consecutive defeats last Friday in front of Rouen (2-0). "Sun and a victory, the atmosphere was quite nice this week, there were more smiles than usual", notes Frédéric Bompard, who would like to "surf this dynamic and bring back points from Le Mans.

In its situation, with two lengths behind the first non-relegation team, Nîmes Olympique needs to keep the clock ticking. "We have a points deficit and not many jokers anymore, recalls the Nîmes coach. We don't yet have a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, but the sooner we take points, the better."

#football Frédéric Bompard, coach de @nimesolympique, avant le déplacement au @LEMANSFC : "On est en déficit de points et on n'a plus beaucoup de jokers. On n'a pas encore une épée de Damoclès au-dessus de la tête mais plus vite on prendra des points, mieux ce sera." ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TflbD3s4ow

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) February 1, 2024

The hopes of Bompard

Although he may have had some doubts at the end of last year, the croc technician has been optimistic since the restart: "I believe a lot in this team and I remain convinced that matches, we are going to win and we're going to save ourselves." The two offensive reinforcements of the winter transfer window, the Spinalien Camara and the former Sochalien Sané (he is not qualified), two elements which have “real qualities of speed”, without forgetting the return to play of Mbemba after almost four months of absence, confirm his idea, and not only because they will bring "more competition".

Recruit of the winter transfer window, Ismaël Camara will make his big debut at Le Mans in the jersey of Nîmes Olympique. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

A more vertical and more direct game is now advocated

In 2024, to stick more closely to the specificities of the National, where rapid offensive transition phases predominate, the Croco technical staff, who had already abandoned the five-man defense, decided to "change the way of playing"  and "advocating a more vertical game, more turned towards the front". For this he needed "players who move quickly, who make calls in space, who attack deep and force the opponent to defend by falling back". With the trio mentioned above, it is served.

National ranking

Despite the defeats at Orléans in the Coupe de France (2-1) and at Sochaux (1-0), at the start of 2024, the performances were rather encouraging, and success against Rouen is therefore not as a logical sequence. Against the Normans, the Crocos scored two goals during their most prolific quarter of an hour, the first of the second half (6 goals, or 35.3% of the total).

Le Mans has the worst record at home

Above all, they achieved their fifth clean sheet of the season (record: 4 wins, 1 draw), the fourth at the Antonins. The last one dates back to the 11th day (0-0 against Dijon at home). "We were much more rigorous", welcomes Frédéric Bompard who appreciated the way he recovered the ball and organized himself and who hopes that his players will be « capable of maintaining this rigor. That would be good because there is undoubtedly a chance at Le Mans. Far from its initial ambitions, the Sarthe club, which was one of the favorites at the start of the season, is irregular and struggling on its lawn, presenting the worst record at home: only one victory for three draws and four defeats.

 The probable team: Paradowski – Sbaï, Diouf, Mendy (cap.), Diallo – Mbemba, Mexico, Picouleau, Burner – Camara (or Doucouré), Mbina. Substitutes: Paviot, Delpech, Laurens, Thoumin, Doucouré (or Camara). Absent: Doukansy (resumption), Ngakoutou, Labonne and Dias (injured), Ondoa (rest), Guessoum and Sy (choice), Sacko (personal reasons), Cozzella and Sané (not qualified).

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