Football Season Guide

Nice is a club where there are now elevated expectations following the takeover from Jim Ratcliffe a handful of years ago. They have steadily progressed but have struggled to reach their promise. The Champions League should have been attainable last season, but they faltered at the last and have had to settle for fifth. Nevertheless, that is their best position in five years. There has been some upheaval over the summer months, too. Head coach Christophe Galtier has gone to PSG and has been replaced by Lucien Favre, who led the club to third in 2017 by playing an exciting brand of football. This should lead to a significant change of style in the team, too. Nice have lost only one pertinent member of their squad over the summer, with goalkeeper Walter Benitez leading to join PSV on a free transfer. Frustratingly, Nice have yet to secure a replacement, and that is something that could undermine them in the early weeks of the season. Some strong names are being discussed in relation to the post but nothing has been signed. Instead, Marcin Bulka is likely to start in goal after making his loan from PSG permanent. Otherwise, Nice have signed up only prospects this summer. Rares Ilie has joined from Rapid Bucharest while Badredine Bouanani, who is a highly rated teenager, arrives from Lille. Neither can expect to have a big impact on the first team. Less Aiglons still have a strong squad. It will be spearheaded by the excellent Andy Delort, while Amine Gouiri has been linked with a summer move away but remains for now. These players are the basis of their attacking work and should benefit from the coaching change. Nice are not short of quality or numbers in terms of the central midfielders they possess, although they are arguably lacking in a capable No.10 should they wish to move into a 4-2-3-1 formation. Equally, on the wings they can be a little erratic. Defensively, meanwhile, there are fitness issues with capable right-back Youcef Atal, while captain Dante is now 38. He is winning his battle with age for now, but how long can he keep going? These two question marks hang over the team, and along with the goalkeeper issue mean they are not going into the season in prime condition.