In the latest edition of Sofoot, Michel Der Zakarian speaks frankly after his ouster from the post of coach of Montpellier (red lantern in league 1). After a failed start to the season, the Hérault residents chose to dismiss “Der Zak” to replace him with a former member of the Green House: Jean-Louis Gasset. Excerpts from his long interview.
The defeat in Marseille (0-5) was too much for Der Zakarian. Its president Nicollin immediately took the decision to withdraw his duties as coach of the Montpellier professional team.
Khazri and Savanier are expensive
“Savanier… you said about him that if he had been five or ten years younger, with a constant level, he would have been widely eligible for the French team. There are two reservations: red cards first. He is impulsive, and that penalizes us. Although we talked with him when the wires touch, he has difficulty controlling himself, managing this injustice that he feels… the other downside is physically. His way of living, in his community, with his family… I think if he had worked harder and better, he would have been a top player.
“I've been fighting with them for a year and a half to get them to lose weight.” (Der Zakarian on Khazri and Savanier – league 1)
I've been fighting with them for a year and a half to lose weight. But I gave up… It's a question of personal will, and they don't want to lose weight, they think they're fine at that weight. Well no, these are athletes in front, you can't have five, even eight kilos extra. Over the duration of a match, you explode or you disappear. They're lucky they don't have any competition, otherwise they wouldn't be playing. »
