“We are still alive”, “I don't have many levers”: Michel Der Zakarian's strong words before MHSC-Auxerre

Michel Der Zakarian regrette le nombre trop important de blessés dans son effectif. MAXPPP – Vincent MICHEL

Last, Montpellier hosts AJA, poorly ranked, on Sunday to finally start its season. A match that the Hérault coach sees as a “turning point”, while the context is becoming increasingly difficult. While he said he felt “no pressure”, he took advantage of the press conference on Friday, September 20, to draw up his observations, from the excessive number of injuries, to the lack of framework and solutions, to the urgency of the moment.

Sunday, you host Auxerre (15th). In your position, is this match already a turning point for the future ?

It's a turning point, yes, because if we win, we'll catch up with them (Auxerre 3 points against 1 at MHSC). It's important to win matches, because we haven't won any so far. It's our third at home and we'll have to win it.

Behind that, there's another very tough month of October coming up, with Monaco and Reims away and then Toulouse and Marseille here.

Obviously when a coach doesn't win, he's under threat. How do you experience it ?

We experience it and we are forced to work well with the personnel we have at our disposal. Today, you saw how we trained. There are ten players who went out on the field and others who are being treated because they need to recover, they are tired, they have minor injuries.

#football ⚽ Kouyaté "peut-être" présent contre Auxerre dimanche, Mincarelli va "démarrer", Birama Touré "sera sur le banc" selon Michel Der Zakarian qui attend de voir Becir Omeragic ce vendredi. "On est toujours debout" dit le coach du @MontpellierHSC #teammhsc #MHSCAJA

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) September 20, 2024

How do you explain this series of injuries ? Is it just bad luck ?

There is bad luck, many players leave for selection, come back with problems. There are joint and muscle problems.

Has the club given any thought to the injured ?

Of course yes. Everyone is in a hurry. And since we couldn't financially strengthen the team, today we have difficulties. There are a lot of young people from the training center who are with us.

This is not a new problem…

It's been dragging on for a year, there have been relapses.

Can you figure out why ?

You have to ask the doctors. We try to train, but since the beginning of the year, there are many who are in the infirmary, who have not done the preparation. It's complicated.

Everyone has to realize that we are in difficulty. Today, we are last, we are in an emergency.

There were meetings between players this week, the president Laurent Nicollin met with leaders and not only. These moments are important…

… (He cuts in) Everyone needs to realize that we're in trouble. Today, we're last, we're in a hurry. And to move up the rankings, we need to win. And to win, we need to be united, we need to be good together in all areas. Whether it's offensively or defensively, we need to be good.

What levers do you have to change things ?

I don't have many levers. We have a busy infirmary, I have attacking players for whom there are not many replacements: we only have Akor Adams as a striker and Khazri who can play behind. Then, there are youngsters from the training center, but they are not ready. And little Ngosso, who was with us, tore his cruciate ligaments. We can't… We make do with what we have. That's why we are in an emergency.

But we are not yet at the bottom of the earth. We are still alive. But everyone has to raise their level, everyone has to be much better. Starting with me and the players.

Winning against Auxerre on Sunday would bring a little more smile to me, the players and the club.

What is your reason for hope ?

Hope is already to win against Auxerre on Sunday. It will bring a little more smile to me, to the players and to the club. When I lose, I am not happy. I do not have a smile.

The atmosphere has been heavy since the beginning of the season. Has there been a good moment since the preparation ?

Yes, when we started. Afterwards, you have to work. I repeat, you have to work hard. You have to be motivated when you come. You have to want to participate, to give, to transmit.

You have to have leaders in a team. You have to have guys who push everyone up. Today, we are lacking, yes.

You talk about transmitting, motivating. Often, that is the role of managers. Are there no more players in this team who are capable of being leaders??

Of course that's their role. You have to have leaders in a team. You have to have guys who push everyone up. Today, we are lacking, yes.

You find the Mosson. The last match, there was an altercation between a supporter and players. Are you afraid of the reception from the supporters??

We'll see. We'll see how the public reacts. It's up to us to be good on the pitch. When we're on the pitch, we have to play, bring life, win the duels… It takes imagination, talent.

Does your team have enough of it ?

A state of mind can sometimes make up for the lack of talent.