Monaco vs Nice - Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim criticises scheduling ahead of Nice showdown

Posted Saturday, February 04, 2017 by PA

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has criticised the domestic fixture programme ahead of the Ligue 1 table-topping showdown with Nice.

Jardim's side were in Coupe de France action on Wednesday night when they needed extra time to beat third-tier Chambly 5-4.

Less than 72 hours later on Saturday evening the Ligue 1 leaders welcome second-placed Nice to the Stade Louis II Stadium.

"I'm slightly astonished by the calendar," Jardim said at his pre-match press conference.

"How is it possible to play a match on Wednesday and follow it with a big game on Saturday against Nice?

"By the end of February, we could have five or six more injured players.

"Teams involved in four competitions need protection. It isn't the first time this has happened."

Monaco and derby rivals Nice are level on 49 points from 22 games and hold a three-point advantage over third-placed Paris St Germain.

Jardim's side have a vastly-superior goals difference to Nice, currently standing at 20, but Monaco were thrashed 4-0 by their Cote D'Azur neighbours in September.

"Nice are a big side, very strong," Jardim said.

"They have a lot of experience at the back and up front.

"Obviously we haven't forgotten the game earlier in the season, but the most important thing is to take all three points. It is a big match."

Nice have had the benefit of a free week as their Coupe de France run ended at the start of January when losing to Lorient.

"They're only playing for the league," Jardim said.

"I don't know if it was a deliberate decision to leave the other competitions in order to be able to play solely for the league.

"Perhaps it's a strategy to be stronger.

"They can make good use of their squad. Nice will play for first place until the end."

"It's a derby, at home, and we aim to do everything possible to win this game. It's not about revenge."

Nice breathed life into their title hopes last weekend with a 3-1 success over Guingamp their first win in four games.

Since then Lucien Favre's side have been bolstered by the signings of Tunisia winger Bassem Srarfi and Morocco midfielder Mounir Obbadi, who has experience of this fixture having played for Monaco between 2012 and 2014.

"It's a great derby to play in," Obaddi was quoted as saying on Ligue1.com.

"We know that the fervour is on Nice's side, as they have great fans who are always behind the team.

"There is more fervour than at Monaco.

"When you have great fans there is extra motivation.

"Saturday is going to be a great match to play, there will be two great teams taking each other on."

Monaco hope midfielder Bernardo Silva - who scored a stoppage-time equaliser in last weekend's 1-1 draw at PSG - will feature after missing training this week.

But defender Andrea Raggi is suspended after being sent off against Chambly.

Nice expect Wylan Cyprien and Yoan Cardinale to shake off knocks, but Younes Belhanda remains unlikely to figure as he recovers from a toe injury.