“We did things according to the rules”: Nîmes Olympique wants to remain focused on the reception of the Red Star despite the sword of Damocles

Séance rythmée et enlevée à La Bastide, ce jeudi 25 avril, pour Doucouré, Mbemba et les Nîmois. Midi Libre - Thierry Albenque

The Crocos are working hard to be able to stand up to the Parisian leader, Monday April 29, for the 31st day of National. Without worrying about the complaint made by Orléans after their 1-0 victory in Loiret.

The rest day, Wednesday, was good. The Crocos had desire and gas this Thursday morning (April 25) at La Bastide. The one and a half hour session was fast-paced and lively. The players put intensity into their interventions, Sbaï and Picouleau, each in turn, remaining on the ground for a few seconds after a rough contact.

The 31st day of National and the ranking

Quality and intensity

"There was a lot of quality, I'm pleasantly surprised", appreciated Adil Hermach afterwards, he who had launched a "Bravo everyone !"&nbsp ;at the end of the training. The crocodile coach, who would like to “continue every three days”, made a good turn against bad luck with this Red Star reception postponed to Monday. "This allows us to perfect our plan."

Travail de réathlétisation qui gagne en intensité pour Labonne (cheville) et Paviot (cuisse). pic.twitter.com/sAgesoP63N

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) April 25, 2024

The tactical work carried out, in fact, was entirely focused on this meeting against the undisputed and indisputable leader of the National, only four defeats on the clock. Match situations – "Freeze frames", as Hermach calls them – have been "worked and reworked", rather successfully.

Explore very quickly when recovering, anticipate ball losses, ensure ball releases, alternate short play (placed attacks) and direct play (quick attacks), "we have seen quite a few things compared to Red Star's game, confided Adil Hermach, who had banned balls in the air and asked his players to be "technically precise"" ;nbsp;and lucid: "When things stink behind us, we send !"

A 4-2-3-1 without surprise

If on Tuesday, during the oppositions at the end of the session, he had alternated between defense of 4 and defense of 5, this Thursday, during the tactical implementation, the technical staff did not balance between the two systems, the first option being favored in a classic way with, in front of Paradowski, the Sbaï-Diouf-Mendy-Diallo quartet.

It was in 4-2-3-1 that the Nîmes worked, with a Doukansy-Picouleau doublet in recovery, Mbemba and Camara in the corridors, Mexico being positioned in support of Mbina . As the chasuble changed, we then saw Doucouré, Khalid and Sacko in the team of probable holders.

Lamgahez affair: "We did things according to the rules"

Holder, precisely, during the last two days, the young Zakary Lamgahez did not leave the team of substitutes. As we know, the 21-year-old defender is at the center of the complaint brought by Orléans (read Midi Libre on April 24 and 25), which calls into question the validity of his participation in the match lost 1-0 by the Loiret club last Friday.

"We did things according to the rules and Zak's license (who played and won three Coupe de France matches, Editor's note) was validated as it should have been. rsquo;to be", repeated yesterday sports director Sébastien Larcier, who recalled: "On Selmane's license (El Hamri, top scorer of the reserve, federal contract at Beaucaire last season, reclassified amateur to NO, Editor's note), it is written in black and white that he cannot participate in the National championship. On Zak's, there is nothing written…"

Montpellier, Bourges, Nîmes

"The system, we insist at the club, did not block when we applied for a license for Lamgahez." Request made last August 28 for the former professional trainee from Montpellier HSC who, before arriving in Nîmes, we must not forget, had made a detour via Bourges (N2, he signed there on July 6) where the story ended.

The Federal Settlements and Litigation Commission is expected to study the matter next Tuesday. By then, the crocodile club, sure of being in the right, will have sent him its observations. 

Labonne (left ankle) and Paviot (right thigh) are in the rehabilitation phase. Their return to the group is hoped for next week. Burner (adductors) is still in treatment. Season over for Sané (right adductors). Nîmes (13th, 35 points) - Red Star (1st, 62 points), Monday April 29 at 9 p.m. at Les Antonins. Single rate 5 €. Match broadcast live on Canal + Foot and DAZN1. I subscribe to read more