Maxime Dupé moves ahead of Yéhvann Diouf at Nice, though Claude Puel stays coy | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Claude Puel has declined to set out a pecking order in goal, yet Maxime Dupé now appears first choice at Nice. He started Sunday’s 0-0 derby with Monaco, keeping a clean sheet.

He spread himself as Folarin Balogun hit the bar in the third minute, made saves on 23 and 47, then tackled Mika Biereth in added time. It was the first clean sheet of the Puel era.

Since Yéhvann Diouf’s return, the pair have shared minutes with Nice playing twice a week, but Dupé has been picked in all three Ligue 1 fixtures.

Dupé impressed at Nantes in the Coupe de France, a 1-1 draw settled 5-3 on penalties, during Diouf’s absence at AFCON. He arrived in January 2024 as Marcin Bulka’s understudy.

Puel said he would not formalise any hierarchy, describing the goalkeeper as one of 11 and framing the call as routine selection.

Diouf, a 7 M€ summer signing from Reims, steadied a depleted side in autumn and, on returning from Morocco, shone again with an 84th minute save in Wednesday’s 3-2 Cup win over Montpellier (L2). Even so, Puel has prioritised continuity with Dupé, who has looked secure since early January, aside from a 1-5 defeat at Toulouse, and includes a 3-1 Europa League win over Go Ahead Eagles.

Source: L'Équipe