Antoine Mendy becomes Nice’s reliable defender after Le Havre lesson | OneFootball

Antoine Mendy has emerged as Nice’s steadiest presence in defence, according to L'Équipe, ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final in Strasbourg. The academy graduate has had to convince Claude Puel this season.

His second Ligue 1 matchday squad came at la Meinau in 2021-2022, when Nice reached the Coupe de France final. He did not feature in the 0-1 defeat to Nantes. Earlier this month he scored his first Ligue 1 goal there in a 1-3 loss.

At the club since the age of ten, Mendy is athletic and hard to pass. Despite injuries to Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed Abdelmonem, he sat behind Moïse Bombito, Dante and even Juma Bah. He still started the season as the treatment room filled.

A night to forget at Le Havre on 31 August, a 1-3 defeat, cost him his place for two games. He later said it was a lesson.

He enjoyed a strong Africa Cup of Nations, starting the final after Krépin Diatta withdrew. On returning, he sat out three games or filled in at right-back at Lorient, a 3-3 draw, without shining.

Persistence brought him back into the line-up in early March and he is now first choice at the back. He impressed against PSG, 0-1, and has been key in the cup, scoring versus Montpellier, 3-2, and proving decisive in the 5-6 shootout at Lorient after a 0-0. Now he returns to la Meinau.

Source: L'Équipe