Speaking to L’Équipe, Florent Ghisolfi has rejected notions that the position of manager Francesco Farioli is in any way under threat, despite a recent significant drop in form.
For much of the season, Le Gym have been on the podium and therefore in a position to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. However, Nice have won eight games by just a one-goal margin, meaning that they have often been falling on the right side of fine margins.
They have now begun to fall on the wrong side of those fine margins. Nice have lost three of their last four, all by a one-goal margin, and are winless in their last five ahead of Friday’s match against Montpellier HSC. With the downturn in results, there has inevitably been criticism. Only FC Metz and Clermont Foot have scored fewer goals than Les Aiglons this season and so Farioli’s inability to get the best out of his attacking players has been a point of contestation, however, for sporting director Ghisolfi, there is no question that Farioli is the man for the job.
“He is not blocked on just one plan,” Ghisolfi told L’Équipe, denying notions of Farioli’s tactical rigidity. “It is his work that has allowed us to get here. We are fifth and in the quarter-final of the Coupe de France. It’s far from catastrophic. We are in the race.”
He continued, “I bring him my support and my vision. I don’t want him to feel in danger. I’m advising him to stay calm. The question [about his future] isn’t even being asked.”