Nicolas Pepe torn apart by Nice manager after poor debut

Nicolas Pepe was called out by Nice manager Lucien Favre after he disappointed on debut in his side’s 3-0 defeat to Marseille at the weekend.

The Ivorian sealed his loan move to Ligue 1 and Nice last week as he looks to revive his career after seeing his progress seriously stall since moving to north London in 2019.

His new side OGC Nice took on Marseille in the winger’s debut, but it didn’t go to plan at all.

Nicolas Pepe torn apart by Nice manager Lucien Favre after poor debut

Having been barely used over the last 12 months in north London, Pepe needs time to get back up to game speed, get his feet underneath him in a new league, and get to know his new teammates.

Unfortunately, Nice boss Lucien Favre offered the 27-year-old no such luxuries and tore the winger apart post-game.

Favre told reporters via Goal.com:

"“He hasn’t played for a long time in England. He has done the pre-season with Arsenal but he hasn’t played any matches. He is lacking a bit of rhythm, intensity in his placements, his pressing and in his ball recovery, because everyone has to do that.“There aren’t any exceptions. If one or two players don’t do the work, the whole team is in trouble. Everyone has to do it at the same time, everyone has to defend to recover the ball.”"

That will be a shock to the system for Pepe as he was hoping to have a better time of it in France, but his stern Swiss boss – who is clearly already feeling the pressure – has heaped lofty expectations on the winger.

It is only one game, but most of the things Favre spoke about were the same troubles that the winger had at Arsenal. Often he looked disinterested, didn’t press enough, and his end product was severely lacking.

It’s very early doors, however, so let’s hope that the Nice faithful don’t turn on him just yet. But there needs to be some improvement in Nice’s next match against Lille; otherwise, the Ivorian’s Ligue 1 loan could quickly turn sour.