Thwarted preparation, disastrous firecracker, black October, the words of Laurent Nicollin: a look back at the 31st season in Ligue 1 of the MHSC

Téji Savanier showed the way and spoke when necessary. JEAN MICHEL MART

Montpellier, weakened after the interrupted meeting in front of Clermont, ensured its continuation in the spring. Flashback.

The saving momentum of spring 2023 was only a burst. Montpellier quickly squanders its legacy, particularly its state of mind. Michel Der Zakarian is annoyed by the lapses in conduct and the delay in preparation.

Thwarted preparation

The Africans begin preparation two weeks late, they never catch up. Falaye Sakho and especially Issiaga Sylla run in vain after themselves, Kiki Kouyaté, affected by malaria during the summer, exhausts himself to regain his level. Christopher Jullien is also struggling. And Maxime Estève is waiting for a transfer offer which does not come, laments until September without playing a single minute. The defense, hastily rebuilt in February, no longer has anything of a base.

Der Zak is annoyed by the physical deficit and quickly identifies the injuries. Those of Sylla and especially of Nordin, who interferes with an attack with an unstable balance.
On August 20, the transfer (30M€) from Wahi to Lens relieved the finances, but left the attack, amputated by the combined departures of Mavididi, Maouassa, Germain and Makouana, somewhat little orphan.

The aborted transfer of Monaco full-back Aguilar, who also went to Lens, further disconcerted Montpellier at the end of an upset month of August. With only one point taken at La Mosson ahead of Le Havre (2-2) and Reims (1-3). Everything is already there.

The Disastrous Firecracker

Everything is getting worse. Everything changed and went up in smoke on October 8 in front of Clermont. It’s the case of the firecracker, thrown by a Butte supporter at the foot of Senegalese goalkeeper Mory Diaw, in added time. The match was interrupted, before being replayed behind closed doors at the end of November, and Montpellier received a penalty point.

"When you're leading 4-2 five minutes from the end of the match, when you're potentially 6th, it’s a feeling of disgust that some kind of asshole throws something from the stand. It's complete stupidity", reacts with careful words to President Laurent Nicollin.

The two recruits: Mousa Tamari and Akor Adams sparked until October and the famous match against Clermont. Before turning off. The Jordanian international, deprived of a phenomenal double against the Auvergnats, took the full brunt of October 7 and the tearing of the Middle East. The Nigerian scored his last goals against Toulouse on October 30, before a long eclipse.

Black October, harsh winter

October is not gloomy, it turns black. The Montpellier locker room feels a deep feeling of injustice, even betrayal. On the smoking ashes of the firecracker affair, the altercation between Mamadou Sakho and Der Zakarian inflames the climate. The former international trained at PSG misses his outing and retires amid resentment. Shortly after his contract was terminated, he invited all his ex-partners for a meal. And maintains a climate of mistrust, while the team wastes the opportunity to turn the page in front of Clermont and Brest.

Montpellier is entering winter and it's hard. The day after the CAN and the Asian Cup, which mobilized six players (Kouyaté, Sakho, Tchato, Sylla, Bertaud and Tamari), Montpellier did not cauterize its wounds all at once. He shattered the dream of a run in the Coupe de France, following a rout at La Mosson in front of Nice (1-4), and did not restart the engine. On March 3, after the draw at La Mosson in front of Strasbourg (2-2), Montpellier glimpsed Ligue 2.

While the mayor, Mickaël Delafosse, supports the MHB handball players in Nîmes, La Paillade is subject to dizziness. Dizzy with relegation, setting foot on the dam for the first time in eight years.

The words of Laurent Nicollin

Laurent Nicollin justifies the end of the Ode to the Sea project, in Pérols, due to the presence of a bustard, and is studying a new avenue with the Occitanie Region, on the site of the bustard. Arena South of France. Above all, he speaks again to everyone and above all to the locker room. Before the trip to Nice, and the victory (1-2) on March 8, he placed his players in front of their responsibilities. With a speech without excess or settling of scores, he touches them.

Is it the fire in the buttocks that threatens to burn or the call from the president ? Is it the return to form of Arnaud Nordin, the only decisive attacker& nbsp;? Or is it the awareness of Téji Savanier, who does not want to carry the burden of a descent and is fully involved?

Montpellier takes the right turn in the spring and collects fourteen points out of eighteen possible (Le Havre, Lorient, Clermont, Reims, Nantes and Toulouse). Reflection of efficiency outside and in the transition game, which contrasts with the breakdown at La Mosson, and the possession game.

Everything is upside down, everything is put right side up. Just in time, as a warning at the dawn of the second century of its history.

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