Nice cling to thin hopes as Franck Haise faces Lens after eight straight defeats | OneFootball

Nice visit leaders Lens on Sunday at 17:15 after eight straight defeats, the latest a 1-0 Europa League loss to Braga. Internal strains and a rift with fans frame the trip.

According to L'Équipe, Franck Haise fronted Saturday’s press conference alone after the club kept players away to shield them from crisis questions, including attacks on Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi, who remain on sick leave.

Haise said he had no timetable for their returns and directed enquiries to the club, which offered no clarity. In Europe over 15 months, Nice have taken 3 points from 42 in 14 Europa League matches, and fans have mocked the team.

Friction between president Fabrice Bocquet, sporting director Florian Maurice and the coach is widely known. Haise is thought to have few players behind him, among them Yehvann Diouf, Charles Vanhoutte and Salis Abdul Samed.

The stadium was sparse against Braga and will be closed for Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France on 21 December at 14:45 after a disciplinary ruling. Top earners Boga, Moffi and Sofiane Diop were not selected for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Since the 30 November clash with supporters, noise around the club has eased slightly. On the pitch, heavy losses to OM, Porto and Lorient have given way to 0-1 defeats against Angers and Braga.

Haise believes effort and tempo, not tactics, must shift, pointing to livelier second-half work against Braga. He doubts any single spark and warned that playing only one half at Lens would end badly.

Source: L'Équipe