OGC Nice have a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the final round of UEFA Champions League qualifying. A full house at the Allianz Riviera witnessed Nice lose 2-0 to SL Benfica, with the Po...
OGC Nice have a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the final round of UEFA Champions League qualifying. A full house at the Allianz Riviera witnessed Nice lose 2-0 to SL Benfica, with the Portuguese side netting both of their goals in the second half. It puts them in a very commanding position heading into the return leg next Tuesday.
Benfica were the side that every team was trying to avoid in the draw and they showed why. Their intensity and organisation went unmatched as they deservedly seized the upper hand. Speaking in the post-match press conference, manager Franck Haise did not express frustration with his side, instead highlighting the strength of the opposition.
“Yes, I think they are stronger than us. We knew that before and at the end of the match. I think you have to say that gave basically everything we had,” said the Nice manager.
He added, “We felt that, over the course of the match, by doing a lot, we struggled to create clear chances, and for them, we feel that it was simple. We aren’t in the same category. We knew that beforehand, and we tried to disrupt them, but at the end of the match, we know we aren’t in the same category.”
Naturally, there is pessimism about the possibility of turning the game around in Portugal next week, even if Haise insists his side will go into the match with “the same determination” as they did on Wednesday night. However, he added that the gulf between the two sides was “just a reality”.
Category: General Sports
