“Evolving into Pro D2, I don’t accept it”: Mohed Altrad talks about the situation of the MHR, Claude Atcher, internal relations and the future

MHR President Mohed Altrad provides an update on the MHR situation. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Accounting situation of the MHR, Claude Atcher, Mohamed Haouas, recruitment, future… At the dawn of the final sprint in Top 14, Mohed Altrad, president of the MHR, takes stock.

Montpellier managed to raise its head for three months. But he remains on three defeats. Are you surprised by this new stop?

We have to put things in context, don't just look at these last two Top 14 matches. We have to remember that we start the season by losing eight matches in a row, or 40 matches in a row. % of the championship. The delay was considerable, the atmosphere in the group had been marked by the split between the players and the coach (Richard Cockerill). The players may also have forgotten a little that they were professional players and that they should act as such. The blame was therefore shared.

The new staff has arrived. A dynamic has been found. I take my hat off to the players who re-mobilized, to this staff who quickly grasped the squad. We won ten matches out of thirteen before the last two days of Top 14.

How do you explain these two setbacks where the team seemed to be in difficulty??

Toulon, we got through it (54-7 defeat). And the Toulonnais perhaps played their best match of the season. Ultimately, we can accept a slump after an interesting recovery. The second match against Stade Français arrives. We fought with our weapons, we only lost by two points (10-12) after missing a few touches and melee. As has been said, our bench must provide more.

The championship is almost over and the club had difficulty getting rid of 13th place, synonymous with a play-off…

There are six matches remaining, including three at home (Perpignan, Lyon, Toulouse). We are not completely left behind, with four points behind Clermont and Lyon, five behind Bayonne. Everything is allowed. Everyone can make a misstep, as we did in the last two matches.

Calendar and ranking Top 14

Are you preparing for a play-off match?

There are two objectives. Save yourself, first. Then, balance the workforce through recruitment for next year. We notably announced Billy Vunipola.

It is possible, in fact, that we will remain in 13th place by the end of the season. I'm not panicking. We have two possibilities: be 12th to ensure automatic retention, or have one last chance by playing a play-off.

Playing in Pro D2 next season, is it imaginable ?

No. I do not accept it. As I said, we have two possibilities, therefore two chances.

The scenario is still possible.

I can't imagine it. I am a business manager, therefore a builder. I seek to build the future. I see this future in the Top 14 and I have to build the squad for it.

Staff and players

Will the current staff still be in place next season?

Yes. He does a very good job. These boys are great. They are concerned about the current situation, arrive at the stadium first and leave last. Bernard Laporte (director of rugby) too. He is there every weekend while his family is in Paris. He's isolated in his hotel, working on recruiting and a bunch of stuff.

On recruitment, are you able to be attractive despite your situation ?

Yes, the proof with Vunipola. His brother, Mako (left pillar), was offered to us. We refused. The jiff stars are all taken. The idea is to put as many Jiffs into the group as possible and have some key international players who are charismatic. We also took the New Zealand rear Joshua Moorby.

We need impactful players, leaders. We don't have many in the squad.

In addition to the anxiety-provoking situation caused by the maintenance, Montpellier is behind the Jiff (players from the French team). That's one more problem to manage.

We will be in the nails at the end of the season. We cannot afford to start next season six points behind. The situation is very clear.

The club image

There would have been internal friction, notably between Bernard Laporte and general director Jessica Casanova. What about?

There were no tensions, contrary to what we have read or heard. It’s a stack of events that caused this rumor. RC Toulon sought to poach Jessica. I don't blame him, but I don't think I would have allowed myself to act like that. Bernard didn't really understand these exchanges and made it known.

There is reason to be a little destabilized by the situation. In addition, we are in a moment where we exchange a lot with the players, the coaches, the staff, the agents, me…hellip; It creates agitation. But healthy agitation. We're talking about work, in a period that's certainly less sparkling sportingly.

Tensions arose because someone in the club spoke live with the press. This person has been located and told to stop.

Claude Atcher was contacted to do an audit of the club, Mohamed Haouas will return, Bernard Laporte is in office… Don't you fear for the club's image?

Mohamed Haouas is a social case. We have a plan for him. We want to support him, help him put him on the right track. Even more than in the past. And sportingly, we need it.

Concerning Claude, he offered to do a study to find out how the club can increase its revenue. I know him, I like him. Concerning a potential image that he sends back, Claude Atcher was judged innocent as far as I know. He has the right to work. He filed a complaint against his former employer. What's wrong with working with him?

We can't really say that he has good press… Montpellier, already in search of identity and image, does it need it??

What's bad about Atcher's past?? He was never convicted. He is legally blank. He was a respectable player at Racing, in Nîmes. He successfully converted to the rugby business. He managed to win the organization of the World Cup in favor of Japan in 2019, France in 2023.

We talk about Altrad-Laporte-Atcher together. But what is the problem? The only subject that Laporte is criticized for was made via the press, for facts dating back to 2017. Bernard, what is the problem? rsquo;he is blamed ? He was Secretary of State, coach of the XV of France, successful coach at Toulon. People should respect him more than anything else.

I can understand the moral considerations. Everyone has an opinion on subjects. But opinions are subjective. I can't do anything about it.

The club

Is training always a priority?

A large budget is allocated to the training center. Former players of the club manage it, that’s very good. They have all the means to function and release players. But it’s necessarily complicated to get past the training center.

The current period is not conducive today to getting young people playing. If we were ranked in the six, we could afford to play them. There, it’s complicated.

Less than two years ago, you won the Shield. The club is experiencing a roller coaster…

It’s true. Me, what do I remember from my twelve years of presidency in rugby ? You may put all the money in the world, you cannot build a big club in very not much time. Life events mean that you can't. I always looked for stability in the club.

When I arrived in 2011, we were on a very good dynamic with Fabien Galthié. We sign him a long-term contract. Behind it, it explodes. This couldn't continue.

Jake White arrives in a hurry. He was the only coach available at the time. It changes everything. Things were going pretty well until this famous story where he said he wouldn't refuse a position as England manager. He leaves after two years.

Vern Cotter arrives. It went very well the first year. The second a little less, so we hire Xavier Garbajosa. The two men failed to live together, so Vern leaves. Afterwards, you know the rest.

All these failures, you cannot control them, predict them.

Despite everything, the club is progressing. The training center, for example, is in much better health than it was a few years ago. He has means. We recruit internally. We are approaching the Association to detect young people. Then we won two Challenges, a Brennus in ten years. I tell myself, ultimately, that it’s not bad. Which club has done better in such a short time ?

You've been here for twelve years, the flame is still there ?

As you know, I am a builder. The building, if we give it a score out of 10, I will give it 8. I want to leave when it is 10. The flame, it is still there. The public has a lot of esteem for me, and that comforts me, encourages me. I'm not letting go of the club. Afterwards, I don't see the contribution of local authorities. They are there to see the matches, to say that they love the club. But they're just words.

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