Aside from his reaction to the Europa League draw, Jean-Pierre Rivère also wanted to send a message to the OGC Nice fans on the eve of Nice – Nantes (Matchday 6, kick-off on Saturday at 9pm), during the club’s Instagram Live.

"The match against Nantes is an important one in terms of points, spirit and for our confidence. On Saturday, we will also be back with our supporters. We have this limit of 1,000 people. It’s terrible, because choosing just 1,000 people is complicated. I don’t want to create any scandals, but lots of clubs have chosen to reserve these seats for VIPs, so that they can balance out their revenue and expenditure. When you open a stadium, it’s expensive, but we took another gamble: that everyone should be able to come, regardless of their means. So we opened the 1,000 seats to all categories. We are very happy to be able to be back with some of you. The match that follows, there will be others, and so on and so forth, until we can return to a larger capacity."

The OGC Nice President also took the opportunity to discuss Les Aiglons’ activity in the transfer window: "I know that you, the fans, are impatient and say to yourselves: ‘Why not go for this one or another?’ The young players that we are buying, we aren’t buying them for today, but for tomorrow, or even the day after tomorrow. They won’t be seen immediately, but the message that I want to share is that we are building a project over several years.

Our owners are here for the long-term. If we do what we are doing, it’s to prepare for the future, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t thinking about the present. From time to time, we have something missing with our youngsters, we identify them and then we go and look elsewhere. And honestly, we are buying high-quality players, that we will prepare for what is to come. However, it must be said that we aren’t into trading as I have read elsewhere, we aren’t buying youngsters to sell on, but rather so that they will be in the first team in years to come and that they can help us to grow. 

Our long-term objective is for the club to grow mainly with players that have come through the ranks at OGC Nice, even though, today we have been to Bayern or Manchester, because now, we are able to do that. We need to work these players so that in two or three years, they are starters at the club. We are preparing for the future, I hope that everyone will join us on this journey. I know that it isn’t easy. When you are a supporter, you want big names and lots out of them. Rest assured, OGC Nice are on the right track. We have brilliant owners, who are here to help the club to grow. We will grow the club together. But we need you and your support, and if we have tough times - that can happen - we know that we will be able to rely on you. We have lots of work to do, lots of progress to make, but we are on the right track. I send my very best wishes to you all and I am sad that I will only see 1,000 of you tomorrow, but I hope that we will have the chance to cross paths again soon."

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