Rangers vs Nice in the Europa League – Do Rangers have a shot at winning in France against Nice? French football expert and journalist Luke Entwistle sat down with Blair Malloy to preview Rangers vs Nice in the Europa League tonight.
We discuss how Nice are viewed by the French public, who the star players may be this evening and what Rangers fans can expect when they arrive on the French Riviera.
Transcript:
So, Luke, we’re looking ahead to Nice taking on Rangers. What is the attitude towards this Nice side in France at the minute?
I think this is a Nice side still in construction a little bit after having been deconstructed completely at the start of the season or in the summer. They lost their sporting director Florent Ghisolfi. They lost their manager Francesco Farioli, who was taken over to Ajax.
What you’re starting to see is a more dangerous and more attack-minded team—a more positive team that’s full of some really exciting young players, especially in the forward line. There’s also a rejuvenated Tanguy Ndombele in midfield as well. What we’re seeing is a more exciting Nice team that has also not compromised its defensive solidity to a great extent, despite the loss of Jean-Clair Todibo, who went to West Ham in the summer.
So, it’s a team that I think everyone expects to be there or thereabout in the conversation for Europa League, maybe even Champions League football, once again, come the end of the season. But it’s still a little bit of a team that is trying to build and implement this new style, which, as I say, is so different from what came before it.
And who really are the danger men for Nice, and what kind of style may we see them adopt, especially at home to Rangers?
So, I mean, the danger men you’re probably looking at include Ndombele, but you’re also looking at Mohamed-Ali Cho, another one is Evann Guessand, who is the center forward and sometimes plays out on the left. He’s been playing out on the left a little bit more often. He’s formidable at every single facet of the game apart from putting the ball in the net, which is obviously a little bit of an issue for a striker. But I think he’s a very good player and will cause plenty of issues.
And then, really, both of the wingbacks: Jonathan Clauss on one side, of course, a France international, and Melvin Bard on the other side, a potential future France international. I rate both of them very highly. Haise’s system is very predicated on those fullbacks going forward, getting really high, and being on the last line of the defense.
And Clauss—his output in terms of assists over the past few years is really quite impressive. So, despite being a defender on paper, he’s really one of your big, big danger men to look out for in the attacking third as well.
But there are so many different threats in there. You know, there’s also Youssoufa Moukoko, a former “Next Big Thing,” can we say that, even though he’s still under 20? But he’s not quite lived up to those expectations yet. He’s on loan from Borussia Dortmund.
Morgan Sanson, who Premier League fans may or may not remember from his time at Aston Villa, has had a bit of a revival. He started the season injured. And Jeremy Boga as well.
This is a side that’s filled with lots of attacking, very exciting players, and it’s starting to show in their results, how many goals they’ve scored, and how many chances they’re creating as well.
So, yeah, lots of the threats come from really everywhere. But it’ll be difficult to keep them all quiet, I’d say, on the night. But finishing remains a big issue in this team.
And just finally, I know there’ll be a lot of Rangers fans heading out towards the coast. What can they expect when they arrive in Nice?
Nice is a lovely city. I’ve been here for three years, and I love the winters in particular because it still almost feels like British summer, just, you know, when it’s sunny at least. You get temperatures of about 15, lovely blue skies.
It might be a bit chilly to get in the sea, but I think the Scottish fans would probably brave that. I sometimes do as well. So, yeah, it’s a lovely winter destination. There’s plenty going on around the football.
The stadium itself isn’t the easiest to get to. I know that lots of fans sometimes make the walk out to it—it’s a little bit far. It might take you a little while. If not, you’re on the tram, which gets lovely and crammed very, very early.
So, yeah, the actual getting-to-the-stadium experience isn’t always the easiest. But once you’re in there, I find it’s a great stadium. It can have some great atmospheres on these big nights, and I’m sure that’s something all Rangers fans will be thoroughly looking forward to.
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