Haise working miracles at home but Europe a bridge too far for Nice | Luke Entwistle
Franck Haise is helping Nice stay competitive in Ligue 1 but injuries and the diminished presence of Ineos have cost them in Europe
By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News
From the colourful façades of Vieux Nice to the stands of the Allianz Riviera, there are remnants of Niçard, the language historically spoken in the region. Within the labyrinthine Old Town, street names are carved out in both French and Niçard, and the anthem of the city, Nissa La Bella, sang in traditional Niçard rings out around OGC Nice’s stadium on a fortnightly basis. But the language is no longer prominent, and at OGC Nice, nor are Ineos, the club’s owners.
The distance between Nice and Ineos is currently enforced. As part of the set of rules that allowed both of Ineos’ clubs, Manchester United and Le Gym, to compete in this season’s Europa League, it was stipulated not only that there could be no transfers between the two entities, to the frustration of Jim Ratcliffe who wanted to bring now-West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Old Trafford, but there couldn’t even be contact. Ineos Sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, a regular at the Allianz Riviera last season, as well as Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford, more infrequent visitors, have all, therefore, distanced themselves from the Ligue 1 side; the latter two watched on as their other side, Manchester United, beat Manchester City on Sunday.
