On Tuesday, the City of Nice paid tribute to the Gym at the Villa Masséna. Basked in glorious sunshine, in front of the fans of today and the future, Jean-Pierre Rivère, Lucien Favre, the staff and the players received the praise of the most beautiful city in the world.

"What could beat this? It's impossible to have better than this. We are just missing a little bit of music. The Champions League song if possible." Cardi smiled and laughed. After having done the work on the pitch, there was a holiday feel to the Villa Masséna. A summery feel, warm and sweet. The feeling of their work being done. Shorts, glasses, track suits or polos: the Aiglons honoured the superb invitation extended to them by the city they represent.

"On behalf of Nice, thank you for offering us these glorious hours" beamed the mayor Christian Estrosi. "This ceremony, it is the time at which the city of Nice can celebrate this extraordinary team. Jean-Pierre Rivère is a brilliant chairman and he is the president of one of the biggest French clubs."

"This hommage is made by the city, they have helped our path this season, explained Rivère. The most important thing is to see the pleasure on the faces of the people on the streets. It is great to walk around and see the OGC Nice flags, the school children... Everyone has always been very nice, but now there are a lot who speak of their pride and joy."
 

J-P Rivère: "I hope that we will be able to relive moments like these"

Calmly arriving onto the Promenade, up onto the stage amidst the chants of the fans, coming to celebrate with them, the players savoured the moment. Happy to be amongst their fans, soaking up the happiness of all. "In 41 years, we hadn't finished on the podium, continued the mayor. This year, thanks to them, we are there, and, we have been touched deeply by this. A city, its people and a desire to win, that's everything."

Something perfectly summed up by the "president" when the players left their supporters to head to Charles-Ehrmann. "Young people between 25 – 30 years old who tell me that they have only known tough times and what happened last year and this year, they have never witnessed that, therefore, they are very happy. And then there are the people of my age, who say they have seen that forty years ago and that they are pleased to see these things again. Even though the task remains difficult, I hope that we will be able to relive moments like these."

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