Vieira bemoans bad luck after defeat in first Nice game
PARIS: Patrick Vieira said that his Nice side ‘ran out of luck’ as he tasted defeat in his first league match as a coach in Europe with a 1- 0 loss at home to newly-promoted Reims on Saturday.
The former Arsenal and France midfielder was brought in to replace Lucien Favre after his departure for Borussia Dortmund, but his reign got off to a miserable start.
Moussa Doumbia scored the only goal of the game in just the second minute of his Ligue 1 debut after joining Reims from Russian side Rostov.
The Malian midfielder cut inside two defenders before beating Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale at his near post with a low shot from long range.
Nice dominated the rest of the match – enjoying 71 percent of possession – but only one of their 19 shots on goal was on target as they missed the injured Mario Balotelli.
“The goal made things much more difficult. A goal at the start like that is disappointing,” said Vieira.
“I was surprised. We ran out of luck. We created opportunities, especially in the second half.”
Visiting ‘keeper Edouard Mendy was equal to a low effort from Allan Saint-Maximin, but Nice created little else as Reims clung on to mark their return to the top flight after winning the Ligue 2 title with an unlikely win.
Italy striker Balotelli scored 26 goals in 38 games for Nice last season, but Vieira refused to confirm that the 27-year- old’s future still lies at the Allianz Riviera.
“Balotelli? It’s useless to talk about him because he’s not here,” said the Frenchman.
“I want to focus on the players who are here and want to be here.”
Vieira, who had been brief ly linked with the manager’s job at Arsenal during the close-season, will take his new team to Caen next Saturday, as the 42-year- old looks for his first win since leaving New York City.
Radamel Falcao came off the bench to score and set up another goal as Monaco brushed aside Nantes 3-1 to get their Ligue 1 campaign off to a strong start.
With Falcao left out of the starting XI following his World Cup exertions with Colombia and big summer signing Aleksandr Golovin out injured, Monaco struggled for long periods.
But the game changed when Falcao was introduced in the 66th minute, and Rony Lopes continued his excellent form from last season by stooping to nod in the opening goal just three minutes later.
Falcao set Stevan Jovetic free with 10 minutes to go, and the Montenegrin coolly slotted home.
Samuel Grandsir, who also came on with Falcao to make his Ligue 1 debut for the club, crossed low for the Colombian to tap into an empty net in the 83rd minute, as Monaco cruised to victory despite Emiliano Sala’s injury-time consolation.
“We still have a lot to improve, but this victory is good to start the season well,” Portuguese youngster Lopes told Canal+.
“Last week ( 4- 0 Champions Trophy loss to Paris SaintGermain) was difficult, but here, first game of the championship, a win, we’re happy.” — AFP