Since the arrival of the new coach, Montpellier has shown a different face, even if a lot of work remains to be done.
“A month and a half ago, this match, we lost maybe 3-0.” The reaction of Joris Chotard, after Montpellier's draw against Lille (2-2), Sunday, says that something has changed on the side of La Mosson.
Small negative signs since the start of the season which become positive, like Arnaud Nordin's equalizer in stoppage time, against Lille. A little success despite the new penalties awarded against the MHSC, the second more than questionable, proving that the tide is turning.
Better in the game and in behavior
Luck favors the bold and the Montpellier residents have been more consistent in the game since the arrival of Jean-Louis Gasset at the end of October. If the Pailladins still cannot keep a clean sheet (20 consecutive days in Ligue 1), they defend better by being more compact, particularly in the center of the field. And the big difference is that everyone makes the defensive effort.
Offensively, everything no longer rests on Téji Savanier. Arnaud Nordin returns to his level and we found the elusive Mousa Tamari of the first months of 2023. We see wingers who evolve more inside the game and do not hesitate to zone out, a center forward who does not only stay an attachment point, midfielders and full-backs who provide extra numbers.
Change in the game, therefore, but also in management. The executives, faced with their responsibility by their new coach, are generally present, but as soon as they are less well, they go to the bench. Like Wahbi Khazri and Jordan Ferri, inside against Lille and whom Gasset replaced after the hour mark.
With the return of the injured, the Montpellier coach also has a few more solutions on the bench and the young Rabby Nzingoula and Junior Ndiaye have brought their dynamism. To see if they can now start matches in place of experienced players. But one thing is certain, there are no privileges with the new staff.
A physique to perfect
They work hard, too, in training, on the Grammont side, but not yet enough for the players to be at 100% of their physical potential, according to Jean-Louis Gasset. “The priority is to get them back into the circuit, to make them progress physically, because I think we are far from that. Work always pays off, and that is the leitmotif of my speech with them.”
We are seeing the first fruits of this in terms of play and mentality, this must now be reflected at the accounting level. “This is the point of hope. Now we go to Lens and we host Nice. There are two matches left in December, they are still two good teams, but we will have to have the same will, the same courage, to limit the damage until the truce.”
To play a second game à la “Lyonnaise” in 2024, since this is the example that the MHSC coach took, that of an OL who had escaped with flying colors.
