“We take the games one at a time”. The philosophy is repeated at each media commitment, in an almost dogmatic leitmotiv. Behind the phrase and the smiles, a more structured meaning.  Younes Belhanda dissects, for OGCNICE.com, the Aiglons’ 6 final matches of the season. One after the other.

 

Week 33: Nice – Nancy: “Something incredible”

“You say to yourself, if you win, it’s great, you are sure to be in the top 3. Nancy beat Rennes 3-0, they are a side that hold on and play tightly, but at home, we must win. To secure a place on the podium this early, would be something incredible. If we get there, what will follow, will just be a bonus and more happiness. Because you will be “up there” with Paris and Monaco, with a series of huge games.

But, even if we secure a place in the top 3, we will still have some regrets at the end of the season. Because if we would have had our full squad for the whole season, I think we could have gone ever higher, that will leave some frustration but also hope. Because you say to yourself that in the future, you can be playing for those places again. That’s good for the club.”
 

Week 34 : Toulouse – Nice : “My first goal as a pro”

“Toulouse, I have always had good memories of them. My first goal as a pro, it was against them in a friendly. I wasn’t even a pro, the coach had just picked me. I came on at half-time and played really well. I scored and, opposite me, there was Gignac, we had the same agent and I remember that he called him after the match to talk about me. I also scored a nice goal at Le Stadium. This season, my first somersault at the Allianz was also against them.

Le Stadium is a beautiful ground, the atmosphere is great there this season. Paris and Monaco lost there. Marseille came close too, it will be tough. And in the game at home, they didn’t have Diop and Jullien, who are incredibly tough... “
 

Week 35: Nice – Paris : “S***, we are unbeatable!”

“We will need to win because we dropped points in the Parc (smiles). At their place, it was really top level, but we take away some regrets from the game. Even though the draw was fair at the end, you can’t allow yourself to be pegged back from 2-0 up! Our first-half, that was really something, we went into the dressing rooms saying to ourselves: “S***, we are unbeatable!"

Then, we conceded a goal too quickly, which came from a lack of concentration and then we faced their relentless attacks… But anyway, we had answers, even in the second-half. This game will not be a ‘cup final’ because Paris would need to drop points while we can’t afford to drop any, that is a lot to ask for. But, if by luck it happens to be the case, we need to go and get them. The Allianz Riviera will be full to bursting. Given that even on a normal occasion it’s a cauldron, this will be even better!”

 

Week 36 OM – Nice: “The team that you want to beat”

“OM, they remain the team that you want to beat, especially when you come from the South and you play here. Marseille, they are still strong, even if they are lower in the league than they should be. It’s going to be a huge derby. In general, they are an opposition that prove to be quite good for me. Since the start of my career, I have scored 3 or 4 goals against them, including a bicycle kick in 2012 (photo below).

I have never played in a closed Vélodrome, maybe that’s why that stadium doesn’t have that same effect as the Parc before. Marseille are looking for Europe, and we, we just want to win. They have quality players, it will be a good match. And in any case, at their place, you have to be in-form.”

 

Week 37: Nice – Angers: “I have never played against them”

“Angers, are an in-form team. They play football, we saw it against Monaco. They have some tough guys, they are solid and technical in the middle, and they are quick up-front, with Toko Ekambi who has fire in his legs. Frankly, they will be a good opponent. I have never played against them, given that I wasn’t here in the first game and and that they were promoted two seasons ago.”

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Week 38. OL - Nice: “We hurt them and I liked it”

“I am not sure if I have already won there.  Maybe once, the first year that I was a pro, before the break. OL are a huge team, but in the first game, we hurt them (2-0) and I liked it. Along with the first match against Monaco, it’s one of our best performances.

Even without the red card, that they got because they were tired, I think we still would have beaten them. We enjoyed it and it will be very good there. Last year, the Gym lost a place in the Champions League there, it’s like that. I imagine that the Parc OL is a beautiful stadium. To finish, it would be great to win there…”

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