Inside Nantes’ Andalusian camp before hosting Nice | OneFootball

Nantes spent five days in Cádiz province to reset a faltering Ligue 1 campaign, and now host Nice on Sunday at 15:00 after a 1-2 loss to Paris FC. They are 16th and looking for a spark.

According to L'Équipe, the squad were based at Benalup-Casas Viejas on a better surface than La Jonelière, which suffered in recent cold and rain. Under the eye of Franck Kita, they trained twice on Wednesday and held a golf session where back-up keeper Patrik Carlgren impressed.

New faces Deiver Machado, Rémy Cabella and Ibrahima Sissoko were joined by Libyan defender Ali Youssif. Chidozie Awaziem and Mostafa Mohamed returned from AFCON, and the group flew home on Friday afternoon.

Coach Ahmed Kantari stressed the camp was about shared activities and revealing personalities, not exhausting players. Midfielder Junior Mwanga said time together, from Uno to darts and poker, aimed to help them start matches on the front foot.

Kantari’s results so far read 1-4 at Angers on 12 December after only one session, a 2-0 upset at Marseille on 4 January, then last Sunday’s 1-2 home reverse to Paris FC. His 5-2-3 against Paris FC, with Sissoko, Tati and Cozza centrally, looked off balance.

Against Nice he will be without wing-backs Machado and Fabien Centonze, though Awaziem is available, and he must choose between three or two centre-backs. A result could cut the gap to one point and hint at a new momentum at La Beaujoire. Nantes still want one defender and one attacker before the window shuts, with Mohamed back and leaders Lopes, Coquelin and Cabella, plus Matthis Abline’s energy, to push the effort.

Source: L'Équipe