Nice vs Lens preview - Nice aim to secure safety

Posted Saturday, May 16, 2015 by PA

Nice go into their Ligue 1 clash against Lens on Saturday under a cloud after disgruntled fans disrupted their training session on Thursday.

Some fans threw smoke-bombs during the training session while reports in France claimed that manager Claude Puel was involved in a scuffle with some supporters.

The protests come with Nice still not safe from relegation, although a win this weekend will put that fear to bed, and the club have called for unity in the final two games of the season.

"Our fans showing their discontent is understandable," read statement on the club's official website.

"When one loves this club, and everyone here loves (the club), we absolutely cannot be satisfied with the current sporting situation.

"Everyone has his share of responsibility, including us as leaders, and we have already said that we will assess all situations at the end of the season.

"But still, as leaders, we cannot endorse the dangerous escalation we are seeing for several months around the club nor the physical safety of the members of our sports staff or our players being endangered.

"There are other ways to express disappointment without resorting to violence."

Nice are without a win in four games and the 5-0 loss to St Etienne last weekend has only increased the pressure on Puel.

But, speaking to the French media ahead of the Lens game, he refused to be drawn on his future.

"For me, the most important thing in this final stretch, in this situation, is to stay well calm and well focused on Lens and Toulouse," he said

"We are in action, I don't allow myself to have any thought, any thought that is not directed to the match in Lens, which takes priority.

"I have learned to compartmentalise."

Romain Genevois suffered a fractured shin in the match against St Etienne and is likely to miss out.

Lens were long since relegated and have claimed just a single point from their last seven games with coach Antoine Kombouare admitting the season has been a failure.

"It's the hardest sporting season I have experienced," he said. "But it made me grow and discover something else. It's part of my career."

Rudy Riou (back) and Loick Landre (suspended) miss out for Lens but Pierrick Valdivia returns from suspension.