Clément Pédron, Media365, published on Sunday November 24, 2024 at 8:48 a.m.
Courageous but not rewarded, Montpellier failed to bring back a single point from its trip to Forez against AS Saint-Étienne, a direct opponent for maintenance (1-0). However, on Saturday evening, there was room and the situation is becoming more and more tense…
The improvement was short-lived. Fifteen days after a great victory – only the second of the season – against Stade Brestois (3-1) and marked by the celebrations of the club's fifty years, Montpellier failed to maintain the positive dynamic. Saturday evening, the MHSC lost by the smallest of margins against AS Saint-Étienne for the 12th day (1-0). Problem is, the Hérault team not only experienced a ninth defeat of the season but also against a direct opponent for maintenance who is now 13th in the championship. In other words, the others are taking off in the ranking and Montpellier remains at the dock.
Saturday evening, Jean-Louis Gasset's men did not do poorly since they had chances but they never managed to put them in the bottom like a (very) imprecise Khazri. Worse, they conceded Benjamin Bouchouari's opener following an error by Rabby Nzingoula just after the restart. Everything is going badly for the MHSC which, with six defeats in six away matches and above all seven points in twelve matches, “breaks” a record.
Penalized training
At a press conference, Jean-Louis Gasset spoke with great bitterness on the occasion of his fourth match at the head of the MHSC. “There is a lot of frustration, especially after the first period when we can open the score, which is very important in a match of fear,” said the coach. If we were in preparation, I would say that we are on the right path, but it has already been twelve days. My team doesn't deserve this. We're starting late, the rankings will be painful to look at, however, hope is still there. » A sign that the lights are red for the moment, Laurent Nicollin's club was refused two penalties by video assistance. This scenario further annoyed Montpellier residents who did not need that and who were further penalized by warnings. Since the start of the season, MHSC players have received a lot of cards and on Saturday evening, five (Chotard, Nzingoula, Tchato, Al-Tamari and Sylla) were penalized again. A habit that tires Jean-Louis Gasset: “The referee could have understood that the players come to complain and do a little psychology. We already have a lot of injuries, and if we have suspensions…” Unable to beat ASSE, Montpellier will have to try the impossible since Lille, Lens and Nice are looming.
