“
It's a team sport, we don't play for our faces.
Let it be said, Michel Der Zakarian did not return to have fun in Montpellier.
So much the better, the hour is serious.
After a sad start to the season (4 wins, 7 losses), Olivier Dall'Oglio has paid the pot.
Make way for the experience Romain Pitau, a man from the club.
Same punishment, even worse in fact (11 L1 matches, 2 wins, 2 draws, 7 losses), with elimination from the Coupe de France against Pau (L2) as a bonus.
“
We were zero, we've been zero for some time!
We could have played 6:30 without scoring… At some point, you have to get your fingers out of your ass
, ”Herault defender Maxime Estève got carried away on
Amazon
, after last Sunday's defeat in Strasbourg (2-0).
That of too much in the eyes of Laurent Nicollin, his club having only two small points ahead of the red zone (the L1 classification here).
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
It must be said that nothing invites optimism in Montpellier.
And it's not from this season.
“
A thought for Romain, Pascal
(Baills) and Fred (Mendy), who took the team when I asked them, who were perhaps not destined for this but who did their best to pull the team from the trap in which she had been seen in the sporting situation for a year
, recognized President Nicollin.
I wanted to thank them, it's never easy to do on a human level... When you have human values, it's a little more complicated..."
And God knows that we have these values in Montpellier , family and healthy club par excellence.
As a former player, educator and… coach at MHSC (2017-21), a term during which the club never finished beyond 10th place, “Der Zak” is well placed to know what is the MHSC.
“
We have values in Montpellier.
You must first want to fight to exist when you enter a field
, ”he insists, he who has been free since his ousting from Brest in October.
The next opponent of the band to Téji Savanier, this Sunday (3 p.m.) on behalf of the 23rd day of Ligue 1?
Brest, which the Héraultais had destroyed on the way to Brittany (0-7), when … “MDZ” was in charge.
“
It's fate, life
,” smiles Der Zakarian, whom Nicollin contacted on Monday when he was… in the middle of golf.
Everything happened "
very quickly
“, assures the son of the late “Loulou”, recalling that the 59-year-old coach is “
someone (he) loves a lot
”.
And to add: “
He was the most competent free coach.
Afterwards, when there is friendship, when we are close and when he was coaching the team a year and a half ago, it is easier.
»
President Nicollin's Mea Culpa
If he finds a certain number of players, the structure and the president Nicollin, Michel Der Zakarian, who "
is not a magician
", is well aware that the ambitions are no longer the same as when he left.
“
It's the maintenance operation
”, asserts Laurent Nicollin, wishing that “
everyone has this in mind
”.
“
We have built a team at the gates of Europe, he is coming back with a team at the gates of downhill.
It's certainly my fault, I assume my choices
", continues the 50-year-old leader, calling for "
popular support
" and... the fact that the players "
have even more desire to fight for the club than 'in Strasbourg
".
For this, the Montpellier president has found the right man.
"MDZ" knows how to do it.
Read alsoDer Zakarian officially back in Montpellier
And the tackle slipped by Laurent Nicollin to his players looks like a gentle caress compared to what Michel Der Zakarian has in mind.
Winning, pleasure, confidence are all objectives.
To achieve this, discipline, work and fight.
His method, we know it.
"
Like many coaches
: I work with rigor, love for my players and conviction
", he said to
Figaro
, in 2019. The former coach of Nantes, Clermont and Reims intends in any case "
clear heads and find a positive dynamic
", make everyone want to "
fight for the buddy, for the team
".
"
I haven't changed, I have my way of managing
", he underlines,
listening
" but which has already set the tone with "
two strong sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, there was a lot of intensity.
We need to be a little more disciplined, but it was good
”.
There are some who have extra pounds, they have to lose them otherwise they will go to the stands or on the bench.
Michel Der Zakarian
Discipline in matches, in training… and outside.
"
There are some who have extra pounds, they have to lose them otherwise they will go to the stands or on the bench
," he says.
With another fifteen matches to play and four places in the cart, there is no time for cuddle therapy, even if "
the players are affected
".
“
But afterwards, we have to react!
We need to get into combat mode.
We are at eight teams.
Some are already far, at 29 (points)
", he says, not hesitating to talk about "
individual errors on goals
", to ask Elye Wahi to "
work even more with the team
" or to Savanier to be "
more disciplined
" and better "
manage your emotions
" in order to avoid "
gross mistakes which can cause damage to the team
".
Obviously, Der Zakarian will not remain less close to his group.
“
If a coach doesn't like his players, it can't work
,” he recalls.
However, no one will be immune.
The game is worth the candle, while the MHSC must take up residence at the future Louis-Nicollin stadium by 2025. Admittedly, Andy Delort, Gaëtan Laborde and other Vito Hilton have left, but Montpellier has a team capable of finish in the top 16 around Savanier, Wahi, Benjamin Lecomte and the others.
It remains to be seen who General Der Zakarian's privileged soldiers will be, what tactical plan will be used.
"
It's up to me to make the right choices.
We only know after the game
“, he notes.
Starting with Brest.
It will be without Stephy Mavididi (injured), Laurent Nicollin (suspended 2 matches) or the Ultras (6 matches), but the time for apologies has passed.