Jonathan Clauss stepped out against Lille without the captain’s armband for the first time this season, but Nice’s 2-1 victory on Sunday carried a quieter change in leadership behind it. Axel Witsel has been appointed as the club’s long-term captain after Clauss told head coach Olivier Pantaloni that he did not feel suited to the role.
Clauss asks to hand over the armband
Pantaloni said the decision did not come from the coaching staff alone. The 33-year-old France international approached him during a week in which leadership had been discussed internally.
“I did not decide to change the captain,” Pantaloni said after the win over Lille. “Jonathan came to speak with me. He showed real courage and honesty by telling me that he did not truly feel like a captain.”
The Nice coach viewed Clauss’s approach positively and said the matter was then presented to the squad. Clauss addressed his team-mates himself, explaining why he wanted to relinquish the armband.
“Everyone appreciated the way he handled it,” Pantaloni added.
Witsel chosen for experience
Witsel, 37, takes over after a careful assessment of the available candidates. His appointment also comes with Laurent Abergel unavailable for an extended period because of a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The Belgian, who arrived at Nice this season, brings considerable authority from a long club career and international football. He has recently retired from Belgium duty after making 140 appearances for his country.
Pantaloni said the club did not rush its choice. “We took time to think and looked at the different profiles. We did not want to make a mistake,” he said.
“Axel has only joined this season, so we considered that. But he is an experienced player with a huge career. He was a legitimate option, although we still wanted to reflect properly before making the decision.”
Witsel now assumes the armband on a permanent basis as Nice seek to build on their home victory over Lille.
