Tanguy Ndombélé (27) has started in all five of OGC Nice’s Ligue 1 fixtures this season, and performed well. It is the first time that he has started five consecutive league games since a spell in September-October 2021 when he was playing for Tottenham Hotspur.
It was therefore a surprise when Tom Louchet, only recently returning from an injury, started in place of Ndombélé in Nice’s UEFA Europa League opener against Real Sociedad on Wednesday. Ndombélé was instead named among the substitutes and only came on in the 68th minute of the 1-1 draw against the La Liga side.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News, Franck Haise explained the former France international’s absence. “It was a physical problem,” began the Nice manager. “He was forced to cut his session short yesterday. He couldn’t finish it. It wasn’t anything alarming but it meant that he couldn’t start.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice
Photo credit: Luke Entwistle
