Nice vs Stade Reims preview - Vasseur aims to continue good run - 7M sport

Nice vs Stade Reims preview - Vasseur aims to continue good run



Posted Saturday, November 22, 2014 by PA

Reims boss Jean-Luc Vasseur has stressed the need for his side to have the right mentality as they look to continue their recent good form, warning that their current situation is "fragile".

Vasseur's men won only two of their first eight Ligue 1 matches this season following his appointment over the summer, but their fortunes have turned around.

They have gone unbeaten in their subsequent five fixtures, chalking up three victories, and have a promising-looking run of games ahead as they work towards the winter break, starting with Saturday's trip to 12th-placed Nice, who have lost three of their last four league matches.

Reims, currently 10th, also have the likes of Bastia, Guingamp and Evian to face before the season interval - all teams that are below them in the table.

Vasseur is pleased with the way the side have progressed since suffering back-to-back defeats against Caen and Lens earlier in the campaign, but is keen to make sure they keep approaching games in the right manner.

He said at his pre-match press conference: "When we played teams ahead of us in the standings (such as Bordeaux, Nantes and Monaco, all within the unbeaten run), it was quite successful. We will now be playing teams that are behind us.

"We have seen in the games against Lens and Caen that we were not contenders for victory - we did not know how to manage those games.

"Now, we are no longer in the same period - we grew and matured, so I expect a more difficult game (for Reims' opponents).

"But we must know if we have the ability to handle being the favourites in a game. It's part of the progression of the team.

"What we have done is good, and we must continue, but it is so fragile and it can go in all directions."

Specifically on Saturday's opponents, Vasseur added: "We do not feel inferior to Nice, but we must not fall into the trap - this team have the capacity to recover as we have done.

"Nice have not been in good shape and we must expect to play a team looking for revenge.

"It reminds me a little of how Reims were - we know how it was then, so it is important that we are not surprised tomorrow.

"It will surely be a committed, strong match, and we need to be at our best."



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