‘A very positive feeling’ – Francesco Farioli reacts to OGC Nice’s first Ligue 1 victory since January
The pressure had been growing on Francesco Farioli. After exceeding all expectations in the first half of the season and consolidating their podium place, a run of six games without a win, which included five defeats, meant that OGC Nice were at risk of undoing all of their good work.
Saturday evening’s match against RC Lens came just 72 hours after Nice were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain. In preparation for the match, Nice’s squad travelled to Belgium, just a stones-throw away from Lens, rather than returning to the Riviera. Outside of their everyday context, Les Aiglons had little time to prepare for the match, which had the air of a season-defining moment.
Nice quickly took the lead, profiting from a Facundo Medina. Mohamed Ali-Cho nicked the ball off the Argentinian defender and up against Brice Samba, he chose to square it to Terem Moffi, who tapped into the empty net. In the second half, Khéphren Thuram got his first goal of the season before Moffi then gave Le Gym a comfortable 3-0 advantage from the spot. Elye Wahi’s late strike was merely a consolation.
The 3-1 victory provisionally lifts Nice to fourth in Ligue 1, although they can be caught by Lille OSC on Sunday. Speaking post-match Farioli reacted on the victory. “The feeling is very positive because the match came just 72 hours after we lost at PSG and it was difficult to prepare for it because it was mentally and physically demanding. We played a very good match, as we have done previously. We were really positive with our mindset because it has been really difficult lately,” reacted the Italian, whose position had even been called into question after the run of results that left them winless in Ligue 1 since January 27th.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
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