Back to Nice’s dugout
Even Favre has never experienced such a start
Lucien Favre was officially presented at a press conference in Nice late Monday afternoon. At the President’s side, the new Adler coach insisted on making his ambitions clear on his return.
Published: 6:22 p.m
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Updated: 6:23 p.m
Lucien Favre (64) has not experienced many such beginnings in his long coaching career. On Monday morning he takes to the pitch of the OGC Nice training center to officiate his first training session. Officially, however, the Vaudois is not yet the new tactician of the southern French club – even if there were hardly any doubts about his return.
This exceptional situation is due to its predecessor. According to French media reports, Christophe Galtier is set to be announced as PSG’s new coach in the next few days, but before that an agreement has to be reached with the outgoing Mauricio Pochettino. So it was this series of ambiguities that delayed the official confirmation of Lucien Favre on the French Riviera.
Favre’s commitment will finally be announced on social networks on Monday afternoon. At the press conference that followed, the 64-year-old spoke about his ambitions.
“Something special to be back here”
Lucien Favre appeared in front of the press with a smile, accompanied by Jean-Pierre Rivère, the president of the “Adler”. He emphasizes in the beginning that the Vaud native is looking for the “DNA of the OGC Nice”, which corresponds to the “beautiful game”.
Lucien Favre surprised the French journalists with his first answer. Did he expect to return to Nice? “Oh no.” Then he says: “It’s something special to come back here.” As Nice coach from 2016 to 2018, Favre, who lives in Saint-Barthélémy, has good memories of the club, “on a sporting but also on a human level.” And further: “When the offer from OGC Nice came, I said to myself: ‘I’ll go there, I won’t hesitate’.”
And Lucien Favre has not returned to the Côte d’Azur to act as an extra there. “Within two years, the goal is to consistently finish in the top three … and even higher.” An ambitious goal that will make the fans happy, but will make the President break out in a sweat. “I’ll take it upon myself,” his new coach reassures him.
A Swiss staff
Lucien Favre also has two Swiss in his luggage: Arjan Peço and Christophe Moulin will join his staff. Peço worked at SFV while Moulin met the Swiss coach in Yverdon in the early 2000s.
For his first game in Ligue 1, the former Dortmund coach will travel to newly promoted Toulouse in early August. Before a reunion with the fans at the Allianz Riviera stadium a week later against Strasbourg. “I hope it will be wonderful,” he smiles. “I’m really happy about it.”
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