“If we get carried away now, we haven’t understood anything”: MHSC midfielder Jordan Ferri speaks before the arrival of PSG

“La victoire à Nice a fait beaucoup de bien”, reconnaît Jordan Ferri. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

While he relishes success in Nice (1-2), MHSC midfielder Jordan Ferri is aware of the road still to be covered to secure maintenance. And the difficulty of the match against Paris on Sunday at La Mosson. A meeting in which Montpellier will have everything to gain, explained the ex-Lyonnais at a press conference this Friday, March 15.

How much good did the success in Nice do on a daily basis ?

Of course it does good. We know very well that the weeks following victories are lighter. Even though there has always been good humor, there is more lightness in the atmosphere of the locker room. Above all, it was good for morale. To see that we fought for each other, that we were finally rewarded for the good performances in previous matches, and to leave Nice with a victory did a lot of good.

Everyone said that we had found Montpellier. Do you have the same impression?

I personally don't share this opinion because in the last matches, starting with Metz (3-0 victory), we had a lot better. Certainly,   we couldn't keep up these strong moments, or play a complete match. We saw it against Lyon (1-2), we had a good match but we were missing 15 minutes. Against Strasbourg (2-2), we showed a lot of self-sacrifice and determination to get back to the score.

There were moments of inattention which meant that we were not rewarded for the good content of our matches. Even in Marseille (4-1), where we made a good start then everything stopped. We do not validate good services, making them last.

There, in Nice, we didn't master it from start to finish but we played a consistent match for 90 minutes and we were finally rewarded. We must stick to what has been done well in these last matches and maintain it as much as possible over the duration of a match and there will be other victories.

Can Nice be a reference, give you confidence for the end of the season ?

Doubt, in the group, we try not to have any. We discussed a lot among ourselves, there was the meeting with the president, the players spoke among themselves, there is really an awareness. And it was rewarded with an away victory against a big one. 

🎙 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭
🗣 Jordan Ferri

⚡️#MHSCPSG pic.twitter.com/EFYMvztIdu

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) March 15, 2024

The atmosphere is lighter but that doesn't mean that we don't work, on the contrary. We want to relive these emotions experienced in Nice and we know that it will require a lot of determination, solidarity, and effort to keep our club in L1. We know that we are far from having arrived. We are aware that it is a victory, a step towards maintaining it, but it is up to us to go and get it.

Mentally, there is still the feeling that this group has never given up.

Of course because it’s a group where there are a lot of competitors, a very good atmosphere. This is important in decisive moments. Players are not afraid to say things to each other.

The disagreement between Yann (Karamoh) and me was resolved in the best possible way, through a discussion.

We have been able to read a lot of things about us, about a clash between me and Yann (Karamoh), which is the truth and is part of the life of a group. It was resolved between Yann and me in the best possible way through a discussion. The group comes out stronger. He is extremely supportive, vengeful, really wants to get out of it, to show his best side.

For three years, you have had a series of very highs and very lows. How do you explain this inconstancy ?

A season is very long, a lot of things happen. We saw it this year. We don't hide behind anything but a lot of things have happened, various events that have meant that we haven't had a long, quiet journey. When we great seasons, it's when we manage to manage these less good moments as best as possible. Unfortunately we were unable to do it this year. 

There is also the size of the workforce, undoubtedly smaller than other clubs which have other means and can over the long term be more competitive than us. That could be a reason too.

We have never shied away from our responsibilities. But we win and lose together.

For some time now, the coach has been putting players in front of their responsibilities a lot. For him, some are not at the level expected individually. Do you share this feeling ? And do you believe that players, particularly important ones, are returning to this level and resuming their responsibilities ?

The coach confronts us, the executives, with our responsibilities. I put myself in it. We have never shied away from our responsibilities. But we win and lose together. It's not “we win, it's the workforce”, “we lose, it's the executives”. No, I think that not everyone was at the level at one point. It's up to us with our experience to help the group get through it. We try every day and I hope we succeed.

At what point do you establish awareness ? And what was the importance of Laurent Nicollin 's speech (before the trip to Nice) ?

Since Metz, there is still a lot of improvement in the game and the content of the matches. The president’s speech only reinforced what we began by saying among ourselves, the players.

It brought comfort to the heart to feel the support of the president.

It was a comfort to feel the president's support. He had very strong words and it immediately touched us. But we are far from having arrived.

You have held some big ones at home without necessarily winning but by competing. Including in previous seasons. Except against Paris since 2019. How do you explain it?

We are not the only L1 team to score volleys against PSG, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s an extraordinary team, with all international players. If we have to make a move, it will be an achievement. Without disrespect to anyone, Nice, Marseille, Lyon sometimes, it's not the quality of the PSG squad. We will return on Sunday with the desire for a result because it is essential for us.

Paris remains on three draws in L1. Are they more takeable ? Or would it be presumptuous ?

No longer takeable. The new coach has introduced a lot more rotations. The previous ones were always the same eleven or it changed little. Sometimes players are perhaps less good, there are perhaps less qualities on the pitch. When you have a Mbappé, a Dembélé on the bench, it’s difficult to replace them. This could explain the loss of points. But they are so far ahead that they can afford to play on all counts.

We know the matches still to come. There will be a truce to prepare well for this much more important sequence (than Paris).

Can we talk about a bonus match or this term is no longer relevant given the situation of the MHSC?

Points against Paris are always points that we didn't necessarily predict at the start of the season. If we have to take it, it will be ultra-positive for us in our race to maintain. If we lose, nothing will collapse. We know the matches still to come. There will be a truce to prepare well for this much more important sequence.

How do you judge your start to the season ? Do you feel like you've regained your feelings since the break ?

I had a complicated start, a bit like the team. I was coming off a great season, the start was complicated that's TRUE. I got back to work and I feel better and better.