Caen vs Nice preview - Garande keen to move on after rout

Posted Saturday, December 06, 2014 by PA

Caen coach Patrice Garande is demanding a reaction from his players when they entertain Nice on Saturday.

Garande's side lost 5-1 to Guingamp on Wednesday to fall into the bottom three in Ligue 1, with only goal difference keeping them off the foot of the table.

With a chance to put things right so shortly afterwards, Garande is keen to move on as quickly as possible.

"We have recovered, we have trained and now we must act," he said at his pre-match press conference.

"There will be changes (to the team) from Wednesday. What I expect is that this match will see a collective change. I want to see 18 players fighting; warriors and we cannot do anything more than that.

"It is a problem of consistency and for some it is a matter of individual performance but forget individual performance, what is important is that the team wins, who cares who is good?"

Caen are without a win since a 2-1 victory over Lorient on October 25 and could find themselves propping up the table at the end of the weekend.

Nice have gone just as long without picking up three points, recording a 7-2 win against Guingamp on the same weekend as Caen's last success.

A 2-1 home defeat to Rennes last time out leaves Claude Puel's side without a win in five league games and, like Garande, he is hoping his team can bounce back.

"I hope that my group is thinking of revenge," said Puel.

"We and Caen were beaten and both teams will want to do battle and go for the victory that eludes us.

"We must be effective and show aggressiveness, it is the character and personality of a team that can make all of the difference."

If Nice cannot halt their slide and slip to another defeat in Caen they will be only a point clear of their hosts.