In his press conference, the Aiglons coach cast his eye over his side’s victory and the difficult second-half they experienced.

Coach, Nice had a very good first-half but suffered in the second, how can you explain this?
(Laughs) You know, in football, we have opponents, who are sometimes very good. Bordeaux are a side that haven’t lost in a couple of months, apart from their matches against Paris and Monaco. Offensively, they have potential with Kamano, Malcom etc. Rolan was on the bench even though he starts for Uruguay with Cavani, I think that shows the level of the team…Bordeaux are very good going forward.

This victory and the 16 point lead on Lyon give you a good lead on the podium…
We carry on. All the matches are difficult, we have seen that again tonight. We can’t forget that we have several players missing. Tonight, if Seri or Koziello got injured, I have no solution. Maybe it would be me who would go into midfield (smiles). We only have 19 and 20 year olds on the bench, it’s tough to throw them on tactically with this level of tension. It’s very good, we won 2-1, we have 67 points. And we are still going to continue.

When we see your players, especially an experienced player like your captain Dante, celebrate a win like that, topless on the pitch, we could think that they have a glimpse of the Champions League…
We don’t talk about Lyon. Of course we take a quick look at the table. I prepare every match to win them, regardless of the table. As you have seen, we had a good first-half but the second, wasn’t great. There’s work to do, to hold on for one half isn’t enough, you need to be able to express yourselves for 90 minutes. In the game, but also defensively, we have work to do. It’s not normal to to be one on two in that way. We have tactical work to do, coordination, leg work etc. There are lots of details that make the difference, which mean that sometimes we struggle. Because Bordeaux had chances in the second-half.

It seemed that Balotelli was more invested in his defensive work today, what do you think?
Yes. It needs to be that way in any case. He pressed more than usual, he tracked back too. We need him to do that, you need everyone to defend at the same time, as a team, to continue winning.

Eysseric’s goal?
It’s a beautiful goal. Unexpected because he was surrounded, he managed to manoeuvre himself to score a superb goal.

You spoke about a lack of experience on your bench…
(He interrupts) Be careful, they are progressing well. I am the first to throw youngsters in, at all of the clubs where I have worked. But in crucial moments when you are being dominated like that, in terms of shape, it’s difficult to introduce them. (On the supporters who criticised him for his subs) No that’s not serious, it’s always the same ones (smiles).

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