Coach Nicolas Usaï, who arrived on Tuesday to replace Pascal Plancque, is “in observation phase“. He let his staff lead the training sessions this week, content to provide some explanations to prepare for the trip to Dijon this Saturday at 7 p.m.. “The idea is not to flood them with instructions“, explained the new coach on Friday morning at a press conference. He notably approached young players like Mahamadou Doucouré to test their knowledge of the Dijon opponent: “I need the players to be interested in football, to watch our opponents. I try to keep them alert.”
The Crocos coach expects a lot from this first match to judge the level and character of his team: “I saw quality on a technical level, now there is nothing like competition to see the virtues of a group.”
Dijon, a team to beat for maintenance
Nîmes Olympique faces this Saturday the team behind it in the standings: Dijon. Relegated to Ligue 2 last season like Nîmes, Dijon has the same number of points (23). Nicolas Usaï is wary: “They were very good in their last match at Nancy. They have experienced players, it’s a strong group”. Indeed, the team coached by Patrice Garande remains on a 3-0 victory for the red lantern of Ligue 2 just before the winter break. This match promises to be important in the fight for maintenance.
Benrahou and Koné absent
Nicolas Usaï will have to compose his first eleven without Karim Aribi and Zinedine Ferhat (re-athletics), Yassine Benrahou (Covid), Anthony Briançon (in rehabilitation), Enzo Philibert (injured ankle), and Moussa Koné (suspended).
The Dijon-Nîmes match, this Saturday at 7 p.m., is to follow live on France Bleu Gard Lozère with Romain Collet-Gaudin and our partner Objectif Gard.