He also got a double! In providing two more assists, Mika Seri played yet another decisive role in the win over Nantes. The Nice midfielder now confidently turns attentions to the Europa League, with ambition and determination. And, as always, with the team spirit that epitomises his play.

When he received the ball from Malang Sarr in his own half of the field, Jean-Michaël Seri turned, first of all, towards Ricardo, on his left. The thought again. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Mario Balotelli’s run in behind the defence. Fusin thought and action, he produced a wonderful ball over the top, that his teammates clinically converted (2-0). It was another assist for the Ivoirian, before providing a second later in the match with a corner onto the head of Alassane Plea, who out-leapt the Nantes ‘keeper (3-1).

Directly involved in five goals in his last five Ligue 1 matches (1 goal, 4 assists), Mika Seri is meeting all the expectation placed in him during his first appearances in Rouge et Noir. Since he joined Nice last season, the midfielder has provided 12 assists, including six, already this term – more than any other player in Ligue 1 2016-17. And he has no intention of stopping here: "I’m not telling myself that I’ve done enough, I have to keep going. I always try and put my teammates in the best possible conditions. My aim is that my forwards score between 20 and 25 goals. I want them satisfy them; that’s my role. I’m there to make my teammates shine."

The midfielder knows just how important the role of coach Lucien Favre is in Le Gym’s current success: "I hold the coach in very high esteem. I really like him. He talks to his players, he motivates all of us, even if you’re not playing. He improves everybody and that is very important." To keep the club moving forward: "You always need that hunger, maintain that desire to do things well and that’s the secret of success," insists Mika Seri, who also has a role to play with the younger players in the squad: "I tell them all the time that you can’t rest on your laurels, in football or in life. Everything can change so quickly! You have to keep your feet on the ground and your head on your shoulders. We have had a magnificent season so far, but that doesn’t count for anything. We still have a very long way to go."

And to take the upcoming challenges head on, Le Gym can count on a tight and united squad: "Everyone gets along really well, there’s a great atmosphere within the squad," happily explains the Côte d’Ivoire international. "Everyone can have a laugh with each other, there are no clans. It really is like a big family! You can take the best players in the world, but if you don’t have the right spirit, you aren’t going anywhere." And Le Gym aims to go as far as possible, whether it be in Ligue 1 or the Europa League, starting with Thursday’s visit of Salzburg (21:05 CET).

 

As calm and relaxed as ever, Mika Seri is approaching the match in typical style: "You mustn’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. We want to win this match and we will give everything to do just that." To try and extend the European adventure as far as possible, with all the extra dates in the diary that that implies. That’s not a problem for everyone, and certainly not Seri, first and foremost: "I player that’s playing a lot of matches can only continue to grow in confidence, feel good about himself and keep improving on the pitch. For a top-level player, it’s important to be playing every three days."

 

 

 

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