Trailing by two goals, the Niçois finally won against Montpellier in the last minute, after a remarkable comeback. A victory which could launch a great dynamic for the Aiglons coach.
And “magnificent scenario”. It is with these terms that Claude Puel, the Nice coach, designated the qualification of his team for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, in stoppage time (3-2) against Montpellier.
“We had a first half where we had a lot of difficulty playing, conceding a goal very quickly”first said the 64-year-old coach. “The second one was very interesting. We changed the situation and the team composition”. “The Cup is about emotions. This has already been the case in Nantes (qualification on penalties, editor’s note). Everyone should be congratulated. It is the victory of a group which reversed a scenario which was not favorable.he added.
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Puel’s joy, Camara’s anger
Claude Puel even “thanked the audience”Who “even in our dull period, did not let us go”. “We didn’t give up either. Everyone is rewarded. There was communion. We must continue in this direction” he decreed.
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His Montpellier counterpart Zoumana Camara, for his part, felt “rage, anger, disappointment” from the end of the game, but was “at the same time, already looking towards Saturday”for an important championship match in Saint-Étienne.
“He lacked experience, a little more personality to refuse to be cornered on our goal, as well as a little accuracy” in front of the opposing goal, he said before recognizing that “Nice was superior in the athletic dimension”. According to him, “the key moments of the match against Nice were the set phases”. “He lacked attention at this level, it’s the difference between a Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 team”he concluded.
