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Nice - Nantes
Amavi, 2435 days later
Jordan Amavi returned to the Gym at the beginning of January and started this Friday against Nantes (2-1). After 2435 days in the Rouge et Noir, the left-back once again wore the Aiglons' colours for 62 minutes.
Jordan Amavi, who started on the left flank, relaunched his Nice adventure against Nantes on Friday. 9 days after his return to his training club and above all 2435 days after his last appearance in the Rouge et Noir. It was May 16, 2015, and the Gym dominated RC Lens at a time when they were fighting to stay up (2-1). The Aiglons owed their survival in the top flight in part to their left-back, who scored his fourth goal for Nice against the Sang et Or. 2435 days later, OGC Nice are much higher up the table and this time had to battle against Nantes to maintain a win that keeps them in second place after 21 games. "It was a very tough win," Amavi said after the game. "There were some small moments of complacency," said the new number 12, "but the main thing is that we got the win and these three points."
Amavi was on the pitch for 62 minutes before being replaced by Flavius Daniliuc, and he showed his qualities on the left flank, in a position that allows him to express himself at his best. "It's been a long time since I played in this position, it's good to get back into the swing of things and to be part of a team that plays well with the ball," he said after the game. Amavi was initially positioned high up the pitch, like the rest of the rouge et noir team, and had 69 touches, completing 98% of his passes and displaying valuable technical ability in the final third of the pitch (9/9).
He was not decisive with his final pass, but he was decisive with his voice, urging Khephren Thuram to continue his effort on the move preceding the second goal. "I encouraged him to go all the way. There was room to unsettle them and Khephren has the ability to do that," said the number 12 with a smile. The advantage was taken and Gym had to cope with an emboldened Nantes side. Amavi then showed his skills in duels and in reading the game before letting Daniliuc take over.
2435 days later, Amavi found the Gym as he had left it. A 2-1 win.
GALTIER: "JORDAN KNEW HOW TO MANAGE HIS GAME"
"We did very few sessions together compared to what I want to see in his role. We had to manage him on a physical level. Jordan has played very little, he comes from a European club, so he has very few training sessions. We knew he would suffer physically. For 60 minutes, it was good, but after that he obviously suffered. I pushed him as hard as I could, but at a certain point we had to change. He brought experience. He knew how to manage his game. It's going to get better, with extra sessions. With more physical work for him and the succession of matches, he will gain in rhythm and intensity."
J-M.P.
