Called to the rescue by the MHSC, bottom of Ligue 1, Jean-Louis Gasset spoke to journalists this Wednesday.
“Not Montpellier”. Presented to the press this Wednesday, the new MHSC coach Jean-Louis Gasset insisted. He could not refuse the mission of replacing Michel Der Zakarian, dismissed last Sunday after the slap received at home against Olympique de Marseille (0-5). “When I see Laurent (Nicollin), Michel (Mézy), Bruno (Carotti) and the Nicollin family suffering, I had no right not to come. Not in Montpellier. Not in my club, I’m at home here”, immediately launched Gasset, back on the Montpellier bench which saw him begin his coaching career (1998-1999) before a commando mission, already, to save the club from relegation to Ligue 2 in 2017.
This time, the situation is even more critical, even if “remains 3/4 of the championship”, because the MHSC remains bottom of Ligue 1 after eight days, with only 4 points taken and 26 goals conceded. “It’s going to be hard, but we’ll get there. From this afternoon, we will start work. We will transmit values such as self-giving, generosity, work, efforts together. Everyone will be important, we must be united and proud. It’s the year of 50 years, we should be proud. Today, the priority is to put the train back on the rails. Togethere”, mobilized the former coach of Côte d’Ivoire (2022-2024).
Sacred union in Montpellier
«Ensemble», “sacred union”, “self-love”Gasset gave a mobilizing speech. Like the one he revealed during his appointment in Marseille last February to take over from the Italian Gennaro Gattuso. An experience at OM “unforgettable” for the one who announced his retirement by leaving the Marseille city, at the end of the 2023/2024 season in May: “I thought I had done my last challenge in a magnificent place, experiencing strong moments, in a strong stadium. I had a great time, I said to myself this is the end, with a European Cup semi-final… Three historic months for me.”
Firefighter on duty? I prefer that to the nursing home.
Jean-Louis Gasset.
At 70 years old, and after a summer without requests, there was only Montpellier to put him back to work. With his “duty firefighter” label? “I prefer that (as a nickname) to the nursing home. It’s noon, it’s going to be soup time.” he quipped in response to criticism of his age. A few minutes earlier, Michel Mézy (76 years old) had also joked about certain taunts. “I believe that this club deserves to be fought for, even if we are closer to the nursing home, as I have heard several times, but we still have gas,” smiled the president’s advisor Laurent Nicollin, absent from the presentation for personal reasons.
Claimant “a dignified attitude” players, staff and managers of the MHSC are now turning towards the crucial reception in Toulouse, Sunday at La Mosson. “Do not look at the ranking or the goal averageconcluded by Gasset. Need reinforcements in January? I don’t look further than the tip of my nose. I’m watching the next three matches. I see Toulouse, Le Havre… I know what awaits me. I’m not going to be a crybaby.”
