Nice DENY approaching ex-PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino to replace struggling Lucien Favre after just two wins from eight… as club president Jean-Pierre Rivere insists a managerial change ‘is not the right solution’
- Nice had been linked with Mauricio Pochettino before the claims were denied
- Current boss Lucien Favre has had a poor start to the season with eight points
- The Riviera club have also been linked with ex-Bournemouth boss Scott Parker
Nice have denied making an approach to bring Mauricio Pochettino to the club, with Lucien Favre’s side winning just twice in eight games.
Club president Jean-Pierre Rivere has publicly affirmed that Les Aiglons did not make contact with the former Tottenham boss over a managerial position at the Ligue 1 strugglers, claiming he has full faith in Favre’s abilities.
Nice sit in 13th place in Ligue 1, having picked up only eight points from six games, including two wins, two draws and four losses at the start of the campaign.
Nice have publicly ruled out having ever approached Mauricio Pochettino to become manager
Rivere said: ‘We aren’t going to change manager after just eight games. This isn’t the solution either on a sporting or human level.
‘We had a long meeting with him yesterday and Lucien left very happy, he was happy that we support him.
‘The rumours were unfounded. No one at the club contact, nor called Pochettino or his representatives.
President Jean-Pierre Rivere (right) has given Lucien Favre his backing in charge at the club
‘It is a rumour lacking in respect and weakens our current coach’s position.
‘We are going to work together with Lucien in order to make up for the poor start to the season. He hasn’t been given any ultimatum.’
The ambitious French side – owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe – made a number of high-profile transfers this summer, including the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Aaron Ramsey and Ross Barkley, but seemingly to no avail.
Les Aiglons have managed only two wins in all competitions at the start of the 2022-23 season
The club have made several high profile signings, such as Nicolas Pepe (centre) from Arsenal
Pochettino left PSG at the end of last season having won Ligue 1, and he has been outspoken in the past about wanting a return to English football, in particular with Tottenham.
Scott Parker has also been linked with Nice
And according to the Evening Standard, he has also set his sights on a move to either LaLiga or Serie A, rather than another role in Ligue 1.
But a manager of the Argentine’s capabilities would surely only be interested in the top-tier roles in European football, with Juventus the only likely contender with Massimiliano Allegri under increasing pressure after his own poor start.
And Les Aiglons are also rumoured to be interested in Scott Parker, who was sacked as Bournemouth manager earlier this season.
According to a FootMercato report, an advisor at the club in Iain Moody has recommended Parker to take over, with the English manager out of a job.
Though Rivere has come out and assured fans that he plans to stick with former Dortmund coach Favre, should their rotten run continue, he may have no choice but to start looking elsewhere.
And it does not look good for Favre, with PSG their next opponents, and two Europa Conference League clashes with Slovacko either side of a meeting with Troyes in the league in what will be a defining moment in their season.
