“It could have been exceptional”: Julien Deljarry, president of the MHB, gives a positive assessment of the first half of the season

En marge de sa conférence de presse, Julien Deljarry a salué la prolongation du contrat de Bryan Monte. D.M.

En course pour tous les titres (championnat, coupe, Ligue européenne), dans les clous financièrement : le dirigeant attend la suite avec gourmandise.

Since his arrival as president of Montpellier Handball in 2019, Julien Deljarry has liked to take stock mid-season. It is almost a must for the young manager, at the beginning of February, when the internationals return home. Especially at a time of a recovery that he hopes will be more intoxicating each year.

On Monday, he maintained this tradition by sweeping all the files, sporting or not, of a club still at the top of the bill, 40 years after its creation. And unsurprisingly, the business leader first returned to the economic situation of the MHB.

A budget on target

Despite a sharp increase in the wage bill and the disengagement of certain communities – choices must be made – Montpellier is on target: “We will achieve our budgetary objectives,” he said in this preamble. With forty more private partners this year.” Julien Deljarry doesn't really have a choice. Lacking visibility on the public side, he has to rely on the network of local businesses to close the loop.

The balance nevertheless remains precarious. Hence the project for a new hall. But like the MHSC for its stadium, the MHB is desperately waiting for the white smoke. “We need a decision made as soon as possible. Today, we are 14th in the ranking in terms of attendance. And Arenas are being built everywhere. If we don't grow in turn, it will soon be a problem”, he warns.

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A venue to compete with the “H”

In Nantes, to name just this direct competitor of the MHB, the “H” generates 1 million euros thanks to its ticket sales. “That's the equivalent of two top players”, notes the person concerned, half-shocked, half-envious. The Métropole, which is responsible for the project – a 6,000-seat facility near Grammont – promises progress in the coming weeks. Time is running out.

In the economic department, the MHB also hopes to rely on its subsidiary “Event” in the coming years. After 2 and a half years of operation“we are balanced, with around sixty events and the management of the restaurant”, Julien Deljarry is pleased.

“Remain undefeated until the end of the season”

A few minutes later, he congratulated all of his players and staff. Despite an annoying draw against Toulouse just before the international break, Montpellier had a successful first half of its season. In the championship to start with. “It could have been exceptional if we had gone to take points in Paris or Nantes. Today we are three points behind these two with the prospect of hosting them. The objective, now, is to remain undefeated and to go for at least second place in Starligue and qualification for the Champions League.” On February 15, after Montpellier-Nantes, it will be partly fixed.

In the Coupe de France (the MHB receives Aix on Saturday in the quarter-finals) or in the European League, nothing to report. Everything is going well according to Julien Deljarry who is aiming for the final at Bercy on one side and the continental Final 4 on the other. “All the lights are green”, the boss wants to believe while regretting the serious injuries of Kyllian Villeminot or Lucas Pellas, who returned from the World Cup with an Achilles tendon in the glove compartment.

The arrival of a medical joker (Icelandic Dagur Gautason), the extension of Bryan Monte's contract (until 2029), confirmed Monday afternoon, and the outlines of the next squad, however, compensate for this bad news. There are always some after a big competition. “90% of the work was done before Christmas for the next season. But in the meantime, we have to be 200% focused on what's next”, concluded Julien Deljarry.

See you in June!

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