Soon the keel.
Before facing Angers and Metz respectively on the last day of the season, next weekend, Montpellier and PSG will do battle this Saturday (9 p.m.), at La Mosson, on behalf of the 37th lifting of a French championship in which neither of the two teams has anything more to fear or gain.
Mauricio Pochettino's men are already French champions, while those of Olivier Dall'Oglio occupy 14th place in the standings.
“
There are not many stakes for the two teams but the important thing is to prepare well, play well and do things professionally.
We play for the three points, but also for pride and pride
, "insists the Argentine coach, whose future in Paris is to
elsewhere all but assured for next season.
"
I'm still the PSG coach, right?
“, he was annoyed Friday, when he was asked about his involvement in the decisions for 2022-23.
It remains to be seen until when.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
In the meantime, it's all about finishing 2021-22 in a respectable fashion rather than thinking about the next campaign.
And God knows that both clubs are eager for the season to end... Two clubs that have suffered in recent weeks, it's nothing to say.
And Montpellier tumbled...
Departed from their two top scorers at the very end of the summer transfer window in 2021, Gaëtan Laborde and Andy Delort, the Héraultais have long squatted at the top of the table, a little to everyone's surprise it must be said but without stealing anything, before… to tumble.
They have won only one of their last eleven L1 matches (against Bordeaux), and none of the last seven.
Relegation course… "
It's not disappointment, it's misunderstanding
", recently stormed President Nicollin on the antennas of
RMC
.
An air pocket that will not surprise anyone in Montpellier, as it has become a habit.
“
I don't know why
”, blows Dimitry Bertaud about the blow of the breakdown at the start of the calendar year within the MHSC.
One thing is certain: the usual lining of Jonas Omlin in goal knows that the account is not there.
“
Of course it affects us… We are having a mediocre end to the season and we therefore want to redeem ourselves on Saturday for the last game at home, please the supporters and give everything on the field
”, promises the Montpellier goalkeeper, who detected a certain "
relaxation
" among the Parisians, who remain on three draws.
Last Saturday, Bruno Irlès understood well what allowed “his” Estac to recover from a two-goal deficit and to snatch the division of points at the Parc des Princes (2-2): “
The extra soul
".
What the Rouge et Bleu, champions since the 34th day and still groggy after their elimination in C1, have not had for a long time.
"
The match against Real killed us
," admitted Marco Verratti after PSG-Troyes.
Read alsoLigue 1: "I'm still the coach of PSG, right?" Says Pochettino
An illness from which the MHSC has also suffered – deprived of Savanier, Sakho, Cabella or even Wahi this Saturday – for many weeks… All this does not plead to imagine a high-flying shock on the lawn of La Mosson this Saturday.
We obviously only ask to be surprised and contradicted by the players.
Chick?
As for motivation, however, Dall'Oglio promises that this is not a subject and that he will not have to insist with his flock.
“
We play PSG, it's always a phenomenon with us and a party because there will be a lot of people than usual.
And it remains a challenge for us too, a sporting challenge that we will have to take up.
It's up to us to show the resources we can have, mental and technical resources, in relation to this gala match
, ”he assures.
And to add:
Everyone wants to play this kind of game.
There is probably also a fear because opposite, there are still phenomena… Afterwards, we will have to contain this team.
Even if there are one or two absent, at the offensive level, it's still very difficult... It will allow us to judge where we are on this match but also on this end of the season.
»
Kylian Mbappé is not on vacation
Dimitry Bertaud
The MHSC will notably go to the developer of Kylian Mbappé, who "
is not on vacation because he is aiming for the title of top scorer of the season
", as Bertaud points out.
Bondy's crack is indeed in the lead in this category with his 24 achievements, three better than Martin Terrier (Rennes) and Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco).
He is also leading the passers with 15 offerings, two more than his teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi.
However, there will be no “
anti-Mbappé plan
”, as “ODO” asserts, seeing in the person concerned “
a permanent danger, we have been warned
”.
“
It is certain that he will be at full speed and he will have to be stopped.
That we try to stop it
“breath Bertaud.
Note that the MHSC will not have to worry about the Neymar case, the Brazilian being suspended.
It's already that.
For the two coaches, this MHSC-PSG could also be an opportunity to launch or relaunch certain young people, with a view to next season.
A hot topic in Paris... In any case, "
this is not the time to try new things
" at the tactical level according to Mauricio Pochettino.
“
The important thing is to stay focused, to stay in a dynamic of competition and training.
We must remember that 90% of the workforce has an appointment with their selection at the end of the season and it is therefore important to stay in good condition
, ”continues the Argentinian.
It will then be time to look to next season.
With or without Mbappe?
That's the whole question.
Paris on the way to Qatar on Sunday
With an announcement on Sunday, during the UNFP trophy ceremony?
“
I hope not because we will be in Qatar (laughs).
Joking aside, if he has to announce something, we always hope it will be positive for the club, but I don't think it will be Sunday…
”, breathes “Poche”.
Paris-SG has indeed scheduled a two-day trip to Qatar after this meeting, ten years to the day or almost after obtaining a title that has remained in the memories in Montpellier.
"
I had been on the Comedy with everyone ... They had also made us dream in C1 the following season too but the whole title was incredible, with crazy scenarios
", remembers Dimitry Bertaud.
"
The 10 years?
They will be celebrated and they have been throughout the season.
For us, it remains a real sporting challenge
, ”said Olivier Dall'Oglio about a match in the form of a shock of the released teams, a real “Vacancico” at La Mosson.
