Relegation fight dims Nice enthusiasm for Coupe de France | OneFootball

Nice’s Coupe de France run is drawing muted interest at home, with Ligue 1 survival taking precedence, according to L'Équipe.

About 350 Nice fans are due at La Meinau on Wednesday for the semi-final against Strasbourg, four years after the 0-1 final loss to Nantes. A 0-4 defeat by PSG on 21 March underlined the local gloom.

With Nice 15th and fighting to stay up, part of the fanbase has switched off. One Allianz Riviera regular said many expect nothing from a side they feel lacks identity, wanting only to secure safety and move on.

Goalkeeper Maxime Dupé, set to start, warned that lifting a trophy at the Stade de France alongside a relegation would look bad. The usual first-choice, Yehvann Diouf, a cup finalist and relegated with Reims last season, said the priority is staying up and hoped the tie would bring positivity and perhaps qualification.

Claude Puel refused to rank the competitions, calling each match a priority in a difficult season, and said he is focused on the practicalities rather than outside perceptions.

The run-in has already cost a president and a head coach, with a sporting director expected to follow as restructuring looms. With four matches left, Auxerre are 4 points behind, and closing that gap could deepen the fallout.

Diouf said players feel responsible for staff livelihoods, adding to a heavy but understandable mood around the club. Nice have reached a tipping point.

Source: L'Équipe