MHSC: the fall in TV rights handicaps the ambitions of Montpellier, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this season

Akor Adams sera attendu cette saison. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

The fall in TV rights hampers the fiftieth anniversary season of La Paillade and the ambitions of a team in the making. Challenges.

Feelings are split in two. The impatience to celebrate a 50th anniversary collides with the bankruptcy of television rights. The desire to revive this past, and these moments of glory around its tutelary figure: “Loulou”, collides with the uncertainty of the future. Not the glorious uncertainty of sport, but that of a financial crisis, born of the last contract (2024-29) at 500M signed between the actors of the television and the Ligue de football provisoire (LFP).

Read also: MHSC: Joris Chotard back from the Olympics, Sagnan and Kouyaté in recovery… the Montpellier group is expanding four days before Ligue 1

Montpellier is embarking on its 16th consecutive season in Ligue 1 with knots in its stomach, raw nerves and the fear of heights. Yet, on all levels, he does everything to celebrate this half-century, with this unalterable taste for bringing everyone together around the family table. To draw on the magic of the title (2012) and the source of a popular story born in the Paillade district, the strength of tomorrow.

Nicollin faces a dilemma

The fall in TV rights plunges Montpellier into a dilemma. The agreement negotiated by the LFP for the next five seasons guarantees 7M instead of 19.5M. Even if it will be revised upwards (international rights, LFP lifestyle, etc.), this gaping hole is grafted onto the need to sell. And, Montpellier does not have in its squad the rare bird, like Elye Wahi, likely to fly to its rescue.

Until August 30, the end of the summer transfer window, President Laurent Nicollin is faced with this dilemma. How to balance the forecast budget without risking relegation to Ligue 2 ? How to sell several players, beyond the expected transfer of Joris Chotard, without weakening Michel Der Zakarian's team too much ?

In the long term, Montpellier is preparing to rethink its sports policy. Skim off the big salaries, call on young players and hope to regain momentum like in the early 90s. Before starting a severe cure to reduce its lifestyle and its payroll, Montpellier urgently wants to cushion the shock of the crisis.

🇫🇷 Notre médaillé 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 🥈🧡@Paris2024 @jeuxolympiques @equipedefrance @Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/RZCCpzfD1d

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) August 14, 2024

Laurent Nicollin cannot count on the future Louis-Nicollin stadium, the project of which is subject to a new meeting in September, to limit the damage of the TV contract. And must therefore sell during a transfer window as uncertain as it is crucial.

The ideal would be a transfer of Mousa Tamari to the Gulf. If the clubs of Qatar or Saudi Arabia are courting him, the Jordanian international, finalist of the last Asian Cup, wants to assert himself in Europe.

The reality is a transfer of midfielder Joris Chotard, author of an excellent Olympic tournament with the Bleuets like his semi-final against Egypt. With the silver medal in his pocket, the young player (22 years old), with 151 matches in Ligue 1, can plan for his future. And go across the Rhine or elsewhere. His departure will not solve everything.

Roller coaster

Since 2021, and Der Zak's first term (2017-2021) well ranked and frustrating, Montpellier has been on a roller coaster ride. He is never the master of his destiny, nor of his game, lives on spurts, relies on his strength of character and the vertigo of relegation to hang on in Ligue 1. And exhausts himself chasing survival.

🎥 La 𝒔𝒆́𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 de ce mercredi matin ⤵️

🏟️ J-4 🔜 #MHSCRCSA pic.twitter.com/nDCd1Sb8lh

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) August 14, 2024

The firecracker affair, the Sakho affair, the summer slack-off and the departure of the talented M. Wahi have defused the whiplash initiated by Der Zak's return to the bench, in February 2023.

To get out of this inconsistency, redraw a horizon and shape a long-term course of action, Montpellier wanted to change, retouch its backbone, refresh a squad and renew the executives. In particular midfielder Jordan Ferri and striker Wahbi Khazri, with reduced playing time and high salaries. The financial context freezes any change, restricts any evolution of the squad. And leaves in its juice a locker room not always on the same wavelength as the staff.

All about the MHSC

Ranking 23-24: 12th (41 pts)
President: Laurent Nicollin
Coach: Michel Der Zakarian
Stadium: La Mosson
Capacity: 22,000 seats around
Budget: 35 million euros excluding transfers
Palmarès : French Champion (2012), Winner of the French Cup (1990).

Transfer Market
Arrivals: Gabriel Barès (Midfielder, back from loan Concarneau L2),
Departures: Léo Leroy (Midfielder to Basel), Sacha Delaye (Midfielder, to Austria Lustenau), Silvan Hefti (Defender, back from loan to Genoa), Yann Karamoh (Forward, back from loan to Torino).

Squad
Goalkeepers: Benjamin Lecomte, Dimitry Bertaud (RDC), Belmin Dizdarevic (BOS).
Defenders: Enzo Tchato (CAM), Falaye Sakho (MAL), Christopher Jullien, “Kiki” Kouyaté (MAL) 2~Forwards: Arnaud Nordin, Mousa Tamari (JOR), Akor Adams (NIG), Coulibaly, Maamma (MAR), Alex Guéguin, Yanis Issoufou.

To do better, Montpellier had identified the flaws in its game and the deficits of certain players. Thus, it had targeted the recruitment of a defensive midfielder and a forward. Needs displayed last spring, with the hypothetical return of Andy Delort still pending, still relevant.

No recruitment for the moment, atrophied room for maneuver, a squad with the same flaws and what ambition? Montpellier, which has just completed the last three seasons in the second half of the ranking (12th or 13th), is moving forward to lead the fight with the clubs of its standing and the promoted ones.

The calendar does not allow any respite. The first three matches at La Mosson (Strasbourg, Nantes and Auxerre), which Der Zak's team wants to reconquer, can mark the season of all feelings.

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