The Montpellier coach has confidence in his players to save their place in Ligue 1 although the results are slow in coming.
The squad: return of Jordan Ferri; Téji Savanier uncertain; Touré, Fayad and Maamma absent
There is a new absentee in Montpellier. Birama Touré has a small muscle problem and will not be at Lille's reception, just like Khalil Fayad and Othmane Mamma who are not 100% recovered from their injury. We will still have to wait for Kiki Kouyaté and Akor Adams who completed the rounds on Friday morning in training.
Téji Savanier has not appeared on the field since the start of the week. “He is suffering from a big sole stuck on his foot. From tomorrow, he will resume with us, normally. But we protected him because the area was really painful“, detailed Jean-Louis Gasset, the coach. He should nevertheless be in the group to face Lille just like Jordan Ferri returning from suspension.
Progress but no effectiveness
There has been improvement in the game on the Montpellier side since the arrival of the new coach but it is not materializing enough in terms of points, particularly because of the offensive efficiency like the match at Saint-Etienne. “In the state of mind, in the organization, in the creation of chances, it was good. After the last gesture, it's the most difficult thing in football, to score a goal. But we made a video to show all the situations where we were in a good position. Every offensive player had at least one opportunity. I'm not talking about penalties called at the time and then not awarded.” regrets Jean-Louis Gasset.
He believes that the work done will pay off and that we must maintain confidence. “We don't have the attitude of being last. That's what I tell the players. I know a little about football and I don't think we're in the three worst teams in Ligue 1. The day we regain our level, the day the tide turns a little, we will notice points and we will regain hope.”
Lille, a high-level opponent
There is hope in the face of the latest performances but there is the reality on the ground. Especially when it's Lille who comes to play at La Mosson, Sunday at 3 p.m. An opponent with full confidence and who is practically qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League. “Lille is regularity. When you look at last year's standings at the same time, they are fourth, they are qualified, they are making the right progress in the Champions League, they are not far from having signed the contract. In the championship, they are fourth, that means it’s regular.
It's a club that is managed by Olivier Letang, whom I know well. A squad built to the millimeter, with young people who are very strong. So we have the players who supervise, like Benjamin, André, Cabella, there are plenty of players like that who are mature.”
