Nîmes Olympique: the defeat in Nancy, a good reminder for the Crocos

Formose Mendy et les Crocos se sont complètement délités en deuxième période, vendredi soir à Nancy. MAXPPP – Cedric JACQUOT

En ne mettant pas les ingrédients nécessaires en seconde période, vendredi soir à Nancy, pour le compte de la 23e journée de National, les Crocos ne pouvaient que perdre (3-1).

The video debriefing is likely to be tough on Monday at La Bastide. "Be magnanimous with the players, I'll take care of the rest, said Frédéric Bompard in substance, Friday evening, after the eighth setback of the season in Nancy (3-1). I expect more from some people. I have to be demanding with them and I will be."

The 23rd day of National and the ranking

Beyond the defeat and the helplessness released after rest – "Nancy was superior to us" -, it was the feeling of abandonment of his troops after the Lorraine equalizer which annoyed the Nîmes coach, almost as much as the three goals conceded, "avoidable". "We have to be mentally stronger. There was no reason to panic and give up when we were behind, he thundered.

Mendy: "We failed in our collective efforts"

"We completely missed out in the second half, we didn't get back into it, we failed in our collective efforts and we paid for it in cash " quot;, analyzes Captain Formose Mendy without complacency. "We were completely unstructured and the exit of Mathis (Picouleau), one of our best players, is not unrelated to that, it hurt us", continues Bompard.
"In the first half, the team managed to remain balanced and compact defensively. We then lost this compactness in the block,” adds Mathis Picouleau. Nîmes, which had only conceded one goal in the last five days, completely disintegrated and no longer controlled anything.

No margin, therefore the obligation to fight from the first to the last minute

"We have no right to overlook certain crucial points. The balance and collective state of mind of the first period have disappeared, regrets Mendy. It’s a shame because there was a way to hang on to the draw. At 1 all, we knew that Nancy was going to push to drive home the point. We were not able to cope, we did not put ourselves in the position to do so. At that moment, we should have been more rigorous, more attentive, communicated even more between us…" And the Nîmes captain, who "does not want to forget the good things of recent weeks and question everything", to remember all the same: "We have no margin. We therefore have no other choice but to be on point from the first to the last minute. It’s a good reminder."

The maintenance will be anything but peaceful

Frédéric Bompard and his staff will have a week to put things in order before "the important reception" (Picouleau) of Cholet, "red lantern which beat Dijon (2-1) who had themselves beaten Nancy (3-1), notes Mendy. It’s a Championship that is very complicated, very homogeneous. Everyone can beat everyone.

Eighth when it led 1-0, the croc club ultimately did not return to the first half of the table, having left it since the 12th day, and remains on the edge of the relegation zone. "We're going to have to fight until the end, that's clear, Bompard warned. We would have liked to remain calm, that will not be the case." Message to the address of his players who had perhaps (re)seen themselves too handsome after their series three wins and two draws.

Achieve at least five more victories

A reminder, therefore, of the demands of the National. "We're going to see if we have the strength of character to switch and, above all, if we've learned from our mistakes", says Picouleau, who "is not worried about what (Nîmes) has shown since the start of the return phase but has not forgotten everything that the defeat in front of Épinal had triggered. There are eleven matches left to play and Nîmes will need to win at least five to maintain their position. Mendy's conclusion: "We will have to fight, battle, battle…"

I subscribe to read more