Woe to the vanquished.
Admittedly it's a bit cliché.
But that sums up the state of mind of Montpellier and Racing, before their confrontation on Friday night.
The two clubs, who will be deprived of their internationals, need to find their way back to victory after disappointing last outings.
The situation is nevertheless much more serious at MHR, stuck at a pitiful 13th place in the standings, after a series of six consecutive defeats.
The electroshock of Philippe Saint-André replacing Xavier Garbajosa has still not had an effect, the former coach has still not won in the Héraultais and has just cashed, against Lyon (16-21 ) a fourth setback since joining.
Far from the ambitious ones displayed by the Mohed Altrad club ...
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After the defeat at home against LOU, “PSA” did not hide his helplessness: “At times, we say to ourselves that there is a black cat.
I've known a lot in my career, but I've rarely seen it.
Four matches, four losses, four defensive bonuses. "
The former coach of the Blues (2012-2015) has already gone through serious storms with the XV of France and he does not intend to give up.
"As long as there is hope, we have to work, be more precise, and let go," he proclaims.
We don't play enough.
We are too timid.
We're not going to complain. ”
Curse, rugby gods
The MHR switched to "commando mode" to ensure its maintenance.
Even if Saint-André refuses to sound the alarm bell.
“We will become one.
Everything is still allowed because we are at a point in Bayonne.
Pau and Brive are not too far ahead of us, but we need to win matches.
We are not yet doomed.
We just have to try to break free and play rugby.
It would have been nice for this team to win this match (against Lyon) in the money-time, but the rugby gods are not with us, ”he says, in a form of fatalism.
President Mohed Altrad speaks of “a curse”: “Nobody is going to help you to get us up, even the referees.
In life, when you are weak like us today since we cannot win, we will not help you, but we will help the strong.
I am attached to the club, the players too. ”
“We doubt, that's for sure. It shows on the ground. We come out of the matches frustrated, we can't express ourselves, we must have had a hard time playing ”
Yvan Reilhac
Time is running out, the morale of Montpellier is obviously affected and the arrival of Racing 92 - impressive this season outside its bases (5 wins for 2 losses, only Toulouse did better with 6 wins) - is going, once again , be a serious test against a Brennus contender.
“We doubt, for sure, recognized Yvan Reilhac, the Montpellier center interviewed by
Midi Libre
.
It shows on the ground.
We come out of the matches frustrated, we can't express ourselves, we must have had trouble playing.
I think it shows on the pitch and on our faces at the end of the matches.
We have to win.
If in addition we manage to regain pleasure, gain by speaking, that could be a click for the future. "
Szarzewski does not want to "fall into sinistrosis"
Opposite, the Sky and White arrive with the desire to redeem themselves.
The Hauts-de-Seine club is still on the podium of the Top 14 (3rd) but the two hiccups at home against Toulon then Bordeaux-Bègles have done task.
Especially since the players of Laurent Travers remained on a good series of six victories and seemed untouchable.
Missed.
"There is no danger in the abode, but we must remain vigilant," however nuanced Dimitri Szarzewski, the defense coach, without wanting to "fall into sinistrosis".
His manager, Laurent Travers, had warned him after the setback conceded at the Arena against the RCT.
“Sport is not an exact science.
It takes time to build and it is much easier to destroy, ”he stressed.
The situation is far from alarming but the Racingmen must resume their march forward and regain certainties which have partially disappeared during the last two matches.
"We are going to a team that is under even more pressure than us," warned the second line of Ile-de-France Boris Palu.
And to add: "We prefer to be in our place than in theirs at the moment."
The Hérault club has not won since December 4 and a trip to Clermont (21-15).
The end of the tunnel this Friday for the MHR?
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