Starligue: Montpellier in full discomfort before facing Toulouse for a capital derby
The MHB receives Toulouse, this Saturday, February 26 at 8 p.m. at the FDI Stadium, in a complicated atmosphere and with their backs to the wall after seven defeats in the league.
Montpellier Handball is at the bottom of the hole and it is still digging. On the morning of a capital derby in the courses in Europe against Toulouse (kick-off at 8 p.m.), the MHB pitches in sixth position in the Starligue standings with already seven defeats in 17 matches. It had never happened in all the glorious history of the club. The malaise is deep and is no longer limited to the four walls of the locker room.
By pointing the finger at the players via Twitter, the president Julien Deljarry returned the debate to the public square, named the culprits and threw boys already weakened by the results into food. The press conference of the “reconquest” organized the day after the European Championship, at the beginning of February, did not help, on the contrary.
training mask
Returned rinsed, sometimes injured (seven withdrawals a week ago in Créteil), most did not appreciate the ramp lifte orchestrated by Patrice Canayer with a lot of statistics. And the idea that some would hide behind small sores. “If they wait to be at 100% to play… It’s not possible. Everyone is obviously not equal in the face of pain”thunders the Hérault manager.
[#LiquiMolyStarLigue]
? D18 @NHLOfficial
? @FENIX_HB
?️ Saturday 26.02 at 8:00 p.m.
? @beinsports_ENmore info ➡️ https://t.co/cIB98koejw pic.twitter.com/jgOzk6sorr
— Montpellier Handball (@mhbofficiel) February 25, 2022
As for the remonstrances of the president, Patrice Canayer judges them “normal”: “He is not satisfied, that’s a reason to say so.” Even if it means offending players who are aware of the situation but who are more and more used mentally.
In training, the mask is now de rigueur. Same Hugo Descatusually quick to confuse everyone, sits quietly between two exercises. “They are unhappy, I am unhappy, everyone is unhappy but there is no tension in the group”, promises Patrice Canayer. Behind the scenes, however, many are no longer hiding their desire for other places… Perhaps for another discourse as well.
Julien Deljarry: “It’s their job, when things are going badly, it’s normal that they take it in the head…”
“Patrice remains the man for the job, assumes Julien Deljarry. I’m not going to change coach mid-season. He is under contract until 2024. Barring disaster, we will go that far with him. At the truce, we asked ourselves the question: Should we change the men or the method? On a change of methodwith more rigor, more work, more intensity, and it worked rather well with three wins.”
Unsurprisingly, he then sends the players back to their responsibilities: “It’s their job. When it’s going badly, it’s normal that they take it in the head. In return, results are needed.”
Julien Deljarry dreams of success in the Coupe de France, a place in the Final 4 of the Champions League, a comeback in the league and a victory this Saturday against Toulouse. “I believed for a long time that you had to have fun to win games. In fact, you have to win games to have fun“, insists the Montpellier leader. Valentin Porte and the others know what they have to do to smile again.