Ligue 1: “Today, there is red alert”, MHSC coach Michel Der Zakarian sounds the alarm

“If we don’t consider that there is danger, we are completely wrong,” warns Der Zak. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian sounded the alarm on Friday February 9, two days before the Lyon reception.

"There's a red alert", was alarmed by MHSC coach Michel Der Zakarian on Friday, during the press conference, two days before the visit to Mosson de Lyon, a team transformed since the induction by Pierre Sage, during the 21st day of Ligue 1.

Fourteen days before the end of the championship, and the day after a rare disillusionment at home in front of Nice (1-4) in the Coupe de France, Der Zak gives the signal to ;#39;alarms and urges his players to take responsibility.

Since Wednesday, discussions have multiplied. The technician, who returned to the Hérault team a year ago, spoke to his locker room, the club management, also through Michel Mézy. Selected pieces.

"Red Alert"

"In the locker room, we have senior players who must guide the others. Then there is my speech, there is the management speech. Today there is a red alert.

We have fourteen matches left. It's up to us to do what it takes to take the points.

Everyone is disappointed (by the elimination in the Cup). We move on, we move on to the championship.

"It's up to the players to win the matches"

"If we don't consider that there is danger, we are completely wrong.

If we are not aware of the danger today with the performances we are doing… we must be much better. We need to be focused on what we have to do, and above all do it well.

🎙 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭
🗣 Michel Der Zakarian

⚡️#MHSCOL pic.twitter.com/068Kd9hE9k

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) February 9, 2024

Everyone must improve in daily work, in the approach to matches. It's the players who play, they're the ones who are on the pitch, they're the ones who make us win the matches. We, with the staff, put a strategy in place, and it's up to them to win the matches. It’s up to them to be serious and efficient.

They have the capabilities to do it, they have already done it. But you shouldn't look at your navel, you have to work for the team."

Same situation as in February 2023 ?

“I wasn't in it, I didn't know what the situation was like. We were the same (in the standings), we were tied with the teams who were almost in the cart. Then, we took the points we needed, we dismissed certain teams. We need to be able to achieve a series of victories to move forward.

In ten or eleven matches, we have only won one, in Metz (0-1). We make draws, but we don't make much progress with draws. And I don't forget the three points that were taken away from us (Clermont match on October 8, Editor's note)."

"You must not crumble when you score a goal"

"To maintain, you have to win matches. To win them, there are values ​​to put in place. You must not crumble when you score a goal, you must not give up and give up. You have to know how to bounce back. We can concede a goal and win a match. We did it last year, we did it at the start of the season too. To do this, you have to play big matches from start to finish."

Return of Kouyaté

"The more you win your duels, whether in the defensive or offensive sector, the more you have the possibility of performing well. It’s the basis of football, it’s the basis of things.

Then we put things in place, we have to execute them on match days. And, do them together.

The Malians looked good, no problem. And Falaye Sacko (returned a day late) ? I have nothing to say about that."

"Lyon is in the fight"

"Lyon is today fighting with all the teams who are at the bottom. They are in the same situation as us. They have no right to relax. Like all the teams that are there, that hold together in a few things.

Lyon has other means than us, that's normal. Clubs have a budget other than ours. We do with what we have, we are able to do it well. I hope we will have the match we need to win. The remaining fourteen matches are important."