Football Season Guide

Nice may have been unspectacular last season, but they timed their run well, hitting a seam of good form just in time to grab a European spot, with a victory over Monaco on what proved to be the final day of the campaign lifting them from ninth to sixth. Having dipped as low as 15th, Patrick Vieira’s side got their act together thereafter, losing only one of their last 12 games. Nevertheless, the pressure is on this season as the board expects better and has invested in the squad in a bid to ensure that is achieved. Injury problems severely hampered Nice last season, but after the squad has been beefed up, that should not pose such a problem this time around, even with a Europa League campaign to negotiate. The focus has been on signing promising young players, although Morgan Schneiderlin has joined from Everton to add experience to the heart of the midfield and Hassane Kamara, one of the league’s outstanding full-backs, has joined from Reims. Signing Rony Lopes from Sevilla represents a coup and should mean Youcef Atal plays in defence for much of the season, while Robson Bambu is considered a promising youngster from Brazil and Amine Gouiri is one of the most-hyped young French forwards of his generation. Conversely, the players that Nice have lost would have been unlikely to push for a starting berth, with the exception of Christophe Herelle. Vieira’s squad is now looking deep and well balanced, with Kasper Dolberg set to be the focal point in attack. Wylan Cyprien may leave before the end of the transfer window, and if he does, Pierre Lees Melou will take over the creative duties. Dante, meanwhile, will continue to boss the defence at 36, while goalkeeper Walter Benitez is a typically solid performer.