Absent for three matches due to a suspension, captain Téji Savanier takes control of a Montpellier team which is rocking at the start of the year and wants to regain its cruising speed ahead of Lille, the champion, on Saturday (5 p.m.) for the 24th day of Ligue 1. Coach Olivier Dall'Oglio expects a lot from his playmaker, absent against Monaco, Marseille and Saint-Etienne, to secure a young team engaged almost in spite of itself in the race for Europe (7th place in the standings) after the most successful first half of the season for ten years.
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“
His presence can change a lot of things on the tactical level and the offensive animation.
Téji reassures because he is the technical leader.
We know that we can give him the ball, he will do something with it
, ”notes Olivier Dall'Oglio.
Between excess nervousness and extraordinary talent, Savanier (30) has alternated the best and the worst since the dawn of a very successful season, on the impetus of his escapade at the Tokyo Olympics with the French Olympic team. .
Under the effect of the transfer to Nice of his accomplice Andy Delort and a tactical adjustment, he combines multiple responsibilities.
Captain, playmaker and real boss of the locker room, he takes on these new roles in his training club, which he found in 2019 following an expensive transfer from Nîmes (10 million euros).
Armband in arm, the child of the Gély city, a gypsy enclave, is flourishing like never before for his third season in his city of Montpellier.
The coach gave him the keys to the truck and this reflects on his performance but also on the group.
“
Last year, he spoke less, but he has now taken this role to heart.
And he takes it perfectly well.
It's all good for the team, the club and him.
In this position of leader,
“, blows Pascal Baills, assistant coach.
Excluded against Troyes, Téji Savanier missed three competitive matches with the MHSC.
Norbert Scanella / PANORAMIC
Virtuosity and strokes of blood
With five goals and six assists in eighteen Ligue 1 games, the midfielder, positioned as a real number ten in support of center forward Valère Germain, shines with his efficiency, his availability and his technical virtuosity.
The other side of the coin, Téji Savanier still gives in to his old demons and cannot erase his feelings of injustice, at the origin of bloodshed.
Three days after the unjustified exclusion in Strasbourg (3-1) of Elye Wahi, finally cleared, the captain of Montpellier, at the height of his nervousness, was excluded from the Mosson in front of Troyes (1-0) for having walked on defender Oualid El-Hajjam.
“
Téji must make a personal observation of this problem, that of controlling emotions.
We have a few players who confuse temperament with bad temper.
Excess anger does not move forward.
As a captain, if he doesn't control himself, the others will do the same.
He must gain in maturity
, ”recalled Olivier Dall'Oglio, shortly after his exclusion from Troyes.
Dall'Oglio is also advancing on an alternative to respond to the repeated absences of his playing master, deprived of five matches since the start of the season.
To free oneself from its dependence and obvious influence.
In Nice at the start of November (0-1), or more recently against Monaco (3-2), the Montpellier technician thus reorganized the midfield and reshaped his offensive animation rather than entrusting the role of axial leader to Florent Mollet.
President Laurent Nicollin is delighted with the role and performance of his captain.
He has also started negotiations for the extension of a contract which runs until 2023. And for now, Savanier is making the pleasure last.