Ligue 1 Review | Managerless Montpellier left staring into the abyss

Michel Der Zakarian is the first managerial victim of the current Ligue 1 campaign. He was far from the only problem at Montpellier HSC, arguably not the main one, as they drift further towards the abyss. 

12 years have elapsed since Montpellier shocked the French footballing world and lifted the Ligue 1 title. Those days feel long gone. Since, the club has slowly drifted into a state of decay that initially took the form of stagnation. But over the past two years, the signs of decline have been evident. 

Montpellier concede 26 goals in opening eight games

More than many of their Ligue 1 rivals, La Paillade have been hit particularly hard by the financial crisis gripping French football. As a result, promising RC Strasbourg Alsace midfielder Rabby Nzingoula was the only summer recruit. He joined on a loan deal, which does not include a purchase option. Following the closure of the window, French football journeyman Birama Touré joined on a free. Neither significantly raises the quality of this haphazardly-constructed side. 

The lack of investment – naturally – is filtering down onto the pitch. Montpellier sit rock bottom of Ligue 1 on just four points, having conceded 26 goals in their first eight games. It is an astonishing total, and it leaves them with a goal difference of -18, comfortably the worst in the division.

Injuries have played a part in that record, with significant absences, particularly in defence since the start of the season. And that all comes back down to the wider mismanagement of the club; all departments, from recruitment to the medical department, are affected. It is off the pitch as much as on it where the long-term mismanagement is acutely felt, and the lack of expertise and professionalism of some departments, which has led the club to the sorry position in which they find themselves today.

To absolve Der Zakarian of all blame, however, would be a mistake. There is more to extract from certain individuals in this squad; it is not completely bereft of talent. Akor Adams and Mousa Al-Taamari have both shown bursts of talent, whilst the likes of Téji Savanier, Becir Omeragic, Khalil Fayad and France U21 international Joris Chotard are all clearly Ligue 1 level players. They are just yet to show it this season. 

Der Zakarian fired on-air

Failing to extract that potential, at least in part, falls on Der Zakarian’s shoulders, whilst the now-former Montpellier manager had clearly lost the dressing room by the time of his departure. His tenure was marked by tensions at times in the dressing room, including a physical altercation with former Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho, who saw his contract terminated in the wake of the incident. 

Decisions such as that to drop Benjamin Lecomte as Der Zakarian tried – in vain – to spark a reaction, also proved unpopular and further divided and demoralised a dressing room in need of galvanising. There was therefore no surprise that Der Zakarian was relieved of his duties after Sunday’s 5-0 defeat to Olympique de Marseille. 

The manner of it was a little more surprising. Der Zakarian wasn’t even given the time to do his post-match media duties. Instead, it was president Laurent Nicollin who spoke to broadcaster DAZN post-match, confirming the manager’s dismissal, and placing much of the blame on the shoulders of his players. 

“I told the players that, thanks to their great job, they got the manager fired,” said Nicollin. A bit of self-reflection too would not go amiss. The decline of the club precedes Der Zakarian’s appointment, and it was not so long ago that the latter saved MHSC from a dire situation; memories are often short in the world of football. 

Gasset touted to take over at Montpellier

There is plenty of blame to go around, and it is up to arguably the most culpable of them all, Nicollin, to pick up the pieces. The names linked with replacing Der Zakarian are not inspiring. Whilst other teams show increased creativity through electing for often younger, more inexperienced managers (such appointments have paid off at Stade de Reims most notably), Montpellier look to trod along the same path. 

After Olivier Dall’Oglio and then Der Zakarian, it is expected to be one of the “roundabout” managers, who drop in and out of posts in Ligue 1, that will take the helm. Former OM manager Jean-Louis Gasset is the hot favourite. Whoever takes the job, they will have a hell of a job on their hands to stop this once great club from making the drop to Ligue 2, in the season in which they celebrate their 50th anniversary. 

This week’s Ligue 1 subplots

• As awful as Montpellier were, Marseille were scintillating, netting five. It means that, with Le Classique coming up next weekend, Roberto De Zerbi’s side head into the match against fierce rivals PSG with the chance – albeit an outside chance – of going top of Ligue 1.

• RC Strasbourg Alsace may have come out second best against PSG (4-2) at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, however, manager Liam Rosenior believes that his side should take great pride in their display. Read what the Englishman had to say below.

• Olympique Lyonnais, after a dreadful start, look to have turned the corner. With five wins in a row in all competitions, they are just three points behind third-placed Marseille. Malick Fofana and Rayan Cherki, recently re-integrated into the squad, both impressed in this weekend’s 4-0 win over Le Havre AC.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle