The MHSC, which resumes in Lyon on Saturday, will have to play for its maintenance in Ligue 1 against Le Havre, Saint-Etienne, Angers and Nantes. State of play of these five training courses.
There will be two of them on May 18 at the end of the 34th day of Ligue 1 to go down to the lower level. Another club will still have a chance to save their place in a play-off against a Ligue 2 team.
Until then, there are 19 days left, the last two of the first legs and the entire return phase to improve their place. Even if it will be necessary to take into account the winter transfer window which began on Wednesday January 1, the continuation should be played between five teams: Nantes, Angers, Saint-Etienne, Le Havre and Montpellier. Overview.
Montpellier: equation with several unknowns
Last with 9 points with the worst defense in the championship (38 goals conceded), the MHSC had a catastrophic first part of the season punctuated by a pitiful elimination at Puy (4-0), a N2 club, in the Coupe de France. But also a controversial word from his captain Téji Savanier towards a local supporter. General behavior and attitudes that the club's ultras had already pointed out after the defeat against Toulouse (0-3) during Jean-Louis Gasset's first match as coach.
Returning to the fold, replacing Michel Der Zakarian, he managed to rebuild Mosson, an arena where it is difficult to win with a victory (Brest 3-1) and two draws (Lille 2-2; Nice 2 -2) against European teams. Results which mean that Montpellier has the best dynamic among its competitors in maintaining. But it will take more to save its place in Ligue 1 with no goals scored and no points brought home from outside.
We will also have to see how the transfer window will be managed, because if the MHSC passed the meeting with the DNCG without any problems, it needs to sell before recruiting. Joris Chotard, who was due to leave this summer, would be requested by Rennes and Hoffenheim. His other market value Mousa Tamari, reinvigorated since the arrival of Gasset, could also be called upon.
The reception of Angers for the last day out will be essential, as will the sequence in March-April of the meetings in Auxerre and Angers and the reception of Saint-Etienne and Le Havre. Unless everything is decided on the last day in Nantes…
Le Havre: good against direct opponents
For its second consecutive season in Ligue 1, Le Havre with the 17th budget in the championship, without a major transfer other than the arrival of Didier Digard as coach, is in difficulty with only four victories, no draws and eleven defeats. The positive for Le Havre is that their successes were achieved against direct opponents (Saint-Etienne, Montpellier and Nantes). But that won't be enough to save itself, especially as the HAC is preparing to lose its nugget Steve Ngoura, international U20 striker for €3 million. Perhaps this will help the senior club to strengthen itself in other positions.
Saint-Etienne: will the Horneland bet work?
Saint-Etienne is, like Montpellier, the only club to have opted for a change of coach in the hope of saving itself. The Norwegian Eirik Horneland having succeeded the former Montpellier Olivier Dall'Oglio, more in line with the policy of the club's buyers who arrived the previous summer. But if the former coach of Brann, vice-champion of his country and winner of the national cup, does not receive reinforcements in the winter transfer window, he will not be able to work a miracle with a squad composed mainly of League players. 2 and young people not yet seasoned in L1.
Like the MHSC, Saint-Etienne has achieved its successes at home and will have to bring home points to keep its place.
Angers gets by with its little means
Fifteenth at the confectioners' break, SCO Angers would sign to be in the same position at the end of the championship which would be synonymous with maintaining. The smallest budget in Ligue 1 (€25 million) has managed so far because it has beaten or not lost against direct competitors (Saint-Etienne, Le Havre, Nantes) and has been able to take points against Monaco, Marseille, Toulouse and Reims.
The Angevins could recruit if they manage to sell the attackers Loïs Diony and Adrien Hunou who weigh on the payroll and have only played in reserve, in National 3.
Nantes already in action to save its place
In difficulty during the first part of the season (undefeated after three matches then ten matches without a victory), the Nantes leaders did not wait long to allow their club to save its place in Ligue 1.
After considering parting ways with Antoine Kombouaré to recruit Sergio Conceiçao or Habib Beye, the Nantes coach received the reinforcement of two new assistants, Ahmed Kantari, former coach of Valenciennes, and Olivier Blondel who will take care of the goalkeepers.
Changes in the staff but also in the squad, since the former Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes has already arrived to replace Alban Laffont in goal, put on the transfer list in the same way as Fabien Centonze. It is also said that the former Montpellier Florent Mollet would not be accepted in the event of an offer.
