In 2016-17, the Gym only fell to 4 defeats in Ligue 1, their lowest total in any season in the top-flight.

“We don’t judge a man on how many times he falls, but on the number of times he picks himself up”. The expression should be pinned to the walls of the Nice dressing rooms, given the number of occasions Lucien Favre’s side seemed infallible this season.

In fact, after a first half of the season spent largely leading games (16 games out of 19 in which the Aiglons opened the scoring), the Gym often conceded the first goal during the second part of the season. Down, but very rarely out, they knew how to dig deep to deny their opponents success. Trailing on 15 occasions this season, they managed to turn the situation around on nearly 3 occasions out of 4 (4 wins, 7 draws and 4 defeats).

We remember notably the draws obtained at Rennes (2-2) and against Caen (2-2) after having trailed 2-0, or even Mickaël Le Bihan’s game changing brace against Montpellier (2-1 victory). And how could you forget the draw snatched so late on in Lyon (3-3), after they had taken the lead on three occasions?

Thanks to this battling season, the Aiglons registered their lowest number of losses in the top flight (4). A total, which is exaggerated by the drop in stakes towards the end of the season (2 defeats during the last 3 games).

F.H

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