After OGC Nice’s scoreless draw with Reims in the opening game of the season, Jean-Clair Todibo spoke of his frustration at not having celebrated the return of fans at Allianz Riviera with a win. The stopper also regretted not putting away at least one of his two headed chances, as reward for an excellent defensive display.

“I think we dropped two points,” declared Jean-Clair Todibo after the final whistle. Speaking to OGC Nice TV and in the press conference, the player that had a game-high 101 possessions in the match spoke of his frustration at not securing victory: “Obviously we wanted the three points. With the demands we impose on ourselves in training and the objectives we have set ourselves this season, we should win this type of match.”

‘DANTE AND I COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER WELL’

Todibo then spoke of his partnership with fellow central defender and captain Dante, back after nine months out with injury: "I am very comfortable playing next to him and we understand each other well. I learn a lot from him and we complement each other well.” Todibo finished the match with match-high stats for balls won (9) and defensive clearances (4) and played a big role in not allowing Reims a single shot on target in a Ligue 1 match for the first time since 29 August 2020 vs Strasbourg (0-2).

Prominent in the build-up, Todibo also boasted the highest percentage of successful passes in the match with 94.4% and was second only to Pablo Rosario for the number of successful passes in the opposition half (39). The Dutchman is a ‘great player and a real leader,’ according to Todibo. His individual stats illustrate the clear domination by Christophe Galtier’s mean. Despite all that, Les Aiglon lacked ‘precision in the final ball. I think our use of the football on the counterattack wasn’t good enough as well. We need to be more clinical in front of goal.’

‘IT’S GREAT TO HAVE THE SUPPORTERS WITH US’

In a game where the attackers struggled to make an impact, the big defender was also dangerous going forward. In his 18th appearance in Rouge et Noir, it was Jean-Clair that provided the only two shots on target in the entire game. His two headers were both saved by Reims’ ‘keeper Pedrag Rajković and they still haunt him: “Since the end of the match, I can’t stop thinking about those two chances. Armine Gouiri’s delivery was excellent and I should have scored at least one goal from those two chances. I wasn’t surprised to find myself in those positions, I was very focused and new what I wanted to do. I made good contact, but I sent both straight at the ‘keeper. I will keep working and hope the next chance I get will hit the back of the net.”

JC would have enjoyed bringing the crowd to their feet with a winning goal, less than a week after playing his first match in front of the Nice fans just a week earlier, in the one-all draw with AC Milan: “It’s great to have them with us, to hear them chanting and pushing us all the way. It’s everything that is beautiful about football.”  

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