Toulouse – MHSC: “Like any team that hosts Montpellier, they say they have to take three points,” admits Jean-Louis Gasset

Jean-Louis Gasset espère que sa formation va enchaîner après Monaco. MAXPPP – SYLVIE CAMBON

L’entraîneur montpelliérain a reconnu en conférence de presse, vendredi 24 janvier, que sa formation était en difficulté en déplacement et qu’il cherchait la bonne solution.

The squad: Gueguin and Issoufou injured, Kouyaté back, Adams on the verge of leaving

Each week brings its share of uncertainties in the Montpellier squad and this will be the case until the end of the transfer window, on February 3, according to coach Jean-Louis Gasset. “We live day by day. As you can see, things change every day. At the start of the week, it was the goalkeeper; on Tuesday, it's the center forward, on Wednesday, it's a midfielder, on Thursday, it's going to be an outside.”

For the trip to Toulouse, the MHSC coach will have to do without Axel Gueguin who “had a sore rib after a reserve game. There was a sort of detachment of the pleura” and Yanis Issoufou who “hurt his thigh”. These injuries are in addition to those of Jullien, Maksimovic, Mincarelli and Ndiaye. As indicated, Thursday, Akor Adams is “waiting to leave” confirmed the Hérault technician who is recovering Kiki Kouyaté back from suspension but not yet Jordan Ferri who is serving his 2nd match.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

So, it will still be Benjamin Lecomte who will be captain. “I hadn't even thought about it. Honestly, yes surely. Plus, he had a great match. Why change a player who is good ?”

The match in Toulouse for a turning point away ?

Will Montpellier finally find the solution away from home after collecting all their points at home? “We started the return matches well. The first match of the year, we played away. I thought we weren't far off because the Lyon scenario is unlikely. So, we have to stick to that on the road, have the same solidity, the same quality in the game. Of course, try to be efficient because we haven't taken a point, but we haven't scored a goal since I've been here. So, it's a mess…” admits Jean-Louis Gasset.

Just as aware that his team will not start as favorites at the Stadium. “Like any team that hosts Montpellier, they say they have to take three points.” Toulouse is also the first match for the Hérault coach where his players were coming off a heavy defeat against OM. “Toulouse was able to push where it hurt. In 30 minutes, we understood that at this level, there was no mercy .”

The same tactic as against Monaco ?

More comfortable against the “big” teams in the championship, can Montpellier repeat this kind of performance against the other teams? ? “I adapt to my squad. Of course I look at the opponent to see their qualities, their strengths and their weaknesses. Today, I try to make the best team in relation to the squad I have.”

For the moment, Mousa Tamari is still there and Jean-Louis Gasset intends to rely on him. “It's an option. When you have a player like him, you can say that in a match against a more technical team than us, like Monaco, you could have left them the ball. It wasn't intentional, because they want to have possession. It's true that with a player like that, you have to have a very precise game plan, but above all be technically much more accurate than we were. In our first restarts, we lose too many balls, but it can be a tactic.”

I subscribe to read the rest