Launched by Jean-Louis Gasset for the last half hour, the young Montpellier midfielder Khalil Fayad experienced an ordeal on Saturday in Lyon, with a huge wasted opportunity, then an own goal in added time.
Montpellier is not coping. Humiliated before the truce by the amateurs of Puy-en-Velay (N2) in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France, with a 4-0 defeat and a controversy surrounding Téji Savanier, the MHSC showed a much better face on Saturday at Lyon, on behalf of the 16th day of Ligue 1.
However, he lost once again (1-0), breaking down in the final moments of a match that he seemed to be able to win for a long time. If it is always difficult to point the responsibility at a single player, Khalil Fayad will undoubtedly need a little time to digest this evening.
“He relaxed a little, believing it was done”
Because the young midfielder (20 years old) lived a nightmare at Groupama Stadium. Launched on the hour mark after the injury to Nikola Maksimovic, he first wasted an incredible 1-0 ball by sending a magnificent offering from Mousa Al-Tamari (73rd) into the sky of Décines, before precipitating the fall of his team by scoring against his camp at the end of the suspense (90th + 1).
“He had his head very low and tears in his eyes,” admitted his trainer Jean-Louis Gasset at the end of the meeting, in a press conference. “I told him that it's called experience and that it's only those who don't play who can't miss goals like that. The next time he'll put it in because it's a young man who has qualities. He relaxed a little while believing that it was done. Unfortunately, in this profession, as long as the ball hasn't hit the net, it doesn't count.
With this 11th defeat of the season in the league, and only nine points on the clock, Montpellier remains stuck in last place, three lengths from Le Havre, which travels to Marseille this Sunday (8:45 p.m.).
France
