Engaged in a difficult struggle for maintenance, Nîmes has regained some colors and a little hope in 2021, driven in particular by the talent of Zinedine Ferhat, its master asset at the time of going to challenge Paris SG on Wednesday 3 February at the Parc des Princes.
At the end of 2020, Nîmes was in a trap. Red lantern, the Gard club struggled in troubled waters and its room for maneuver narrowed with each match. On the resumption in January, an honorable defeat against Lille (1-0) and a deserved success in Marseille (2-1) nevertheless revived hope.
“Despite the result, the content of our match against Lille gave us confidence (…) And in Marseille, we had a very good match, everyone was concerned, we are starting to find our values and to watch forward “, then judged Ferhat.
This season’s Nîmes is much stronger than last year’s
But patatras, Sunday’s defeat in Angers (3-1), the first match of an important week, plunged Nîmes back into the hard. The Algerian international wants to believe that the place of the Crocs, again last, is still in L1. “The Nîmes this season is much stronger than that of last year,” he said.
On the eve of a three-game week (in Angers, Paris and against Monaco), with his sparkling eye, he expected without boasting “four points out of nine”. “But we have the quality to win two out of three matches,” he added.
Three days after the setback in Angers, the mountain to climb still seems immense with the PSG of the stars and Monaco who never stop winning. “We do not play the same championship, but yes, why not,” Ferhat smiled again at the mention of these two major meetings.
The offensive advantage
It also depends on him. Because in Nîmes, Ferhat is the offensive asset of a collective currently in search of confidence, stability and realism. It is even its main card, Jérôme Arpinon has never hidden it.
“If he stays on these statistics, it’s a treat, he is no longer a Ligue 2 player. He has become, in one season a real L1 player, capable when it is good to take everything with him. the workforce, “said the Gard technician in December.
Before the trip to Angers, Arpinon repeated all the good he thinks of his striker. “Zinou, he deserves to be in a big club. He is a hard worker, his statistics have improved, he has all the qualities to play higher,” he explained.
Today, a very good L1 club or a foreign club may be interested in him
“He has matured, he has a sense of responsibility, he is intelligent, he knows how to question himself and he always arrives at training with a smile (…). Today, a very good L1 club or a foreign club may be interested in him. “
Arrived in Nîmes, then in L2, at the start of last season, the former Le Havre nevertheless feels good in the skin of a “crocodile”. “I’m good at Nîmes, I’m comfortable there. Despite our bad first leg, I never doubted. I had good matches and I am not looking for statistics. I just want to leave Nîmes in L1. We have not yet spoken of a possible extension. “
“Currently, I am just focused on a single objective, maintenance, ensures the attacking midfielder. Will Nîmes be able to keep his nugget next season? The only certainty: a relegation of Nîmes to league 2 would precipitate his departure at the end of the season.
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