Florian Maurice looking to ease tensions at OGC Nice

OGC Nice are in full-blown crisis mode. As per a report from L’Équipe, the recent run of results (four defeats in a row in all competitions) and Franck Haise’s subsequent criticism, targeting the attitude of his squad, as well as the overall quality of it, have caused a rift between the manager and the players.

Haise spoke of “global insufficiency” as Nice were, in the words of Sofiane Diop, on the receiving end of a “spanking” from local rivals Olympique de Marseille over the weekend (5-1).

It hasn’t been the first time that Haise has criticised his players, with the former RC Lens manager highly critical following a defeat against SC Freiburg just before the international break.

That criticism, L’Équipe understands, is not without consequence. Sporting director Florian Maurice is now trying to ease the tensions. He is increasing meetings with the squad in order to remobilise the squad, as well as justify the comments made by the manager. The relationship between the sporting director and Haise is intact, L’Équipe reports, despite disagreements between the pair.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle