The three youth academy teams get back into competition over the next three weekends with the U19s kicking things off on Sunday in the Coupe de France. Manu Pires looks back at the first six months of the season and ahead at what is to come.

REserve

"Given how young the team is, they've had a very satisfactory run under Didier [Digard, their coach], Guy [Mengual, assistant coach] and the staff. In terms of their tactical approach, we try to match that of Christophe Galtier with the same system and the same way of playing to try and make it easier for players to join first-team training. That enables us to have a whole new perspective while also keeping our principles, which is very enriching.

"The goals haven't changed for this season: we want our players with the most potential to flourish at this level. That means bringing in the youngest ones as soon as possible to have them play more senior players, because that's where we're expecting them to be. To come up against physical superior forces, that's when the youngsters from the academy can judge for themselves where they stand. For them to do that, the team has to ensure they stay up. It's looking good, which is why I'm satisfied and we are satisfied."

• Position: 7th in Group D at N3 level
• Record: 5 wins, 5 defeats / 15 points
• Next match : OGC Nice - ES Cannet-Rocheville / 12 January (8pm CET)

U19

"The team is in line with our expectations. It's going well under Johann Louvel and Cédric Varrault. The U19s train in the same group as the reserves, and when they go down a level, everyone plays the game. It's good to see boys who are committed. We've seen the progress of the team and the players, but we're going to ask a lot more of them in the future. Even if you have to be patient with academy players, our standards and demands are going up. All our players must develop so that there isn't a huge jump when they get called into the pros. We have to think like that, because up there, the standard is always going up and the level of demands too.

"The league is a kind of test, the Gambardella Cup too. They have to approach those competitions as top-level games and be where OGC Nice expects them to be. That is mostly the case, and we'll ask even more of them in the years to come.

"The objectives: ensure safety as soon as possible so that the U16 and U17 can come into the squad. Some of the U16 are already starting to establish themselves, which proves we're on the right track. This game of 'musical chairs' is valid at all levels: the sooner survival is assured, the sooner we can bring other elements in, the more time we save in terms of next season."

• Position: 5th in Group D  
• Record: 7 wins, 5 draws, 2 defeats / 26 points 
• Next match  : SO Millau - OGC Nice, 9 January, Gambardella Cup Round of 64 (2.30pm CET).

U17

We didn't start the season too badly with a full and competitive squad, and a new coach, Romain Lattron. The team was mature, and in line with what we had planned. Unfortunately, a number of U17 players got injured. That gave game-time to some 'first years', which is positive, but on the opposite hand, the team sometimes had difficulties. Just like everywhere, for youngsters to flourish, they need to have support around them. That's what we lacked a little. We had problems in terms of physical impact, even against amateurs, who are very well set up, it must be said. In terms of performances, we're not where we should be, even if we're not here to be champions. I also want to point out that Romain Lattron has adapted smoothly to the club's policy. He works a lot and very well. With Marama [Vahirua, assistant coach] and Flo Payet [fitness coach], they're a competitive trio.

"Our goals for the U17: that the team can gain in confidence in the league, pick up points to avoid relegation and not be afraid in their closing games. And then that the youngsters improve. We already have some U16 players in the reserve squad, and some who play at U19, but we mustn't put ourselves iin danger in the league."

• Position 10th in Group D
• Record: 5 wins, 8 defeats 
• Next match: OGC Nice - AC Ajaccio, 16 January.

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