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On Monday, after a first day of medical tests, Patrick Vieira spoke to the media at a press conference. The OGC Nice head coach broached a wide range of issues.

First of all, are you happy to be back?

Very happy! After three months, I’m happy to be back at the training centre with my staff and the players.

Have you seen all the players yet?

No. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the players will come here, do a series of specific tests and then leave. This [Monday] morning, I saw a few players but not everyone.

Do you think expectations will be higher for OGC Nice this coming season?

Yes. But we also have to be wary of expectations and realistic ambition. When you look at the evolution of the club since Claude Puel was coach here, we can see that the club is progressing and has grown. The club must continue to grow. We know how far we have come and we have given ourselves the means to get there, to keep working intelligently and try and to make as few mistakes as possible in the transfer market.

What is missing in terms of players, for the Nice to play one of the leading roles in the championship?

The problem is, in this industry, you have to go from 0 straight to 10. But there are steps you have to take, one after the other, and the club is doing that. People on the outside need to be patient. You have to acknowledge the work the club has done over the last five to six years.

Is a two-month preseason too long? 

We need it. We need to work hard during these two months, especially physically, start slowly and finish strong. Two months is good. It’s not too short because the players haven’t spent the last three months doing nothing, either. We need to plan the work carefully to avoid getting injuries.

Could French football be penalised by the fact that other European championships have resumed?

For the teams playing in the UEFA Champions League, for sure it makes things harder. But I think Lyon and Paris are still very happy to be in the competition. It will be tough, but not impossible. When you look at these two clubs, they have a lot of experience and are very well organised. If they are in the competition, they will try to qualify for each stage.

How are you approaching your third season at the club?

I have a lot of confidence in what I’m trying to achieve here. I hope we will continue to improve and, on a personal level, continue to get the most out of the players. I am a lot more confident now than the first year. The first year, there were a lot of doubts and questions. As a coach, I know myself better now. 

Will you change your methods?

Of course. These last three months in lockdown have given us the chance to do a lot of thinking about a lot of things. I always want to improve, to work differently, have new ideas that can take me and my staff and players forward, as a team, but also individually. Things will change.

In terms of your authority?

I was always authoritative in my decision making and my communication. But there are several ways to show it. I like communicating with people in general. In terms of authority, it all depends on how you express yourself. I talk very well with people, I’m not afraid and I don’t have a problem when I need to say something. The aim is that my message is always as clear as possible.

Will Le Gym bring in new players to suit the playing style, or will the players define how the team plays? 

Over the last two season, most of the time we played 4-3-3, and we know we can also play with three at the back with two up front. The formation we play is very clear. The type of players we are looking for, for this formation, is also clear. The club’s recruiters have done a great job identifying players. Director of Football Julien Fournier is working on trying to recruit those players. The fact that the other championships are finishing later, makes things more difficult. 

Is it a problem that we still don’t know the start date for the new season, in terms of the pre-season training?

A little. But it’s the same for me and all the Ligue 1 coaches. We have to deal with it and we understand after what the country has just been through. Not knowing what date the championship starts is a problem, but it’s not the end of the world either. It won’t be a big problem.

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