Gaëtan Laborde on Terem Moffi: “I feel that we can do something great together.”  | OneFootball

Nice under manager Didier Digard have finally become the team many expected them to be, given the abundance of talent they possess. Gaëtan Laborde, the French striker, is one player whose success is closely tied to the team’s recent form. He has gone from struggling to score to finding the back of the net in his last three games, two of which were game-winners.

In an interview with L’Équipe, the 28-year-old Bordeaux academy product spoke about his recent return to scoring and life at Nice. Despite hitting the post seven times in five months, he is now back on the scoresheet. When asked if he would have been able to score those goals a few weeks ago, Laborde said, “We can’t know, but I feel good and the whole team is regaining confidence. There is a collective dimension: I am not a striker who will dribble eight players before scoring. It’s important that the team revolves around me. I also have more opportunities in matches, so more chances to score.”

Regarding the new manager’s approach, Laborde said, “It’s not just about individuals, but about the team as a whole. He asks us to play higher, recover the ball faster, and do counter-pressing. It’s okay with me. It allows us to create more chances, and it’s easier to make stats with three or four chances per game instead of just one.”

Laborde’s arrival in Nice came with high expectations, especially alongside Andy Delort, but the duo never developed into the powerhouse they could have been. Speaking about any regret that may have caused, Laborde said, “Yes and no. It’s a regret because we would have liked to play together more. We did everything for it. But there was a coach (Lucien Favre) who had different ideas and we had to respect him.”

With the arrival of another high-profile forward, Terem Moffi, Laborde now has another chance to form a star partnership. He said of Moffi, “He is a very cheerful person, who seems very happy. I don’t see it as individualistic. I feel that we are somewhat in the same state of mind, that we will try to work for each other. He is a different profile. He is very strong, able to hold the ball with his back to the goal and go deep. As smart players, I feel that we can do something great together.”

He also spoke about playing wider to make room for Moffi, saying, “Why not? I am fortunate to be able to play across the entire front line. On the side, on the right, on the left, as a striker, or as a second striker. It’s important for the team to have two players who can play together and score.”

Laborde has long been one of the most underrated forwards in Ligue 1. If he and Moffi can find a way to work together, combined with the other complementary options Nice has, they could become one of the best attacks in the league and Europe.

GFFN | Tony DesRois