Undefeated in Arkema Première Ligue, Lyon comes to challenge MHSC who remain on two defeats against HAC at home

Khelifi prise dans la tenaille havraise. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Arkema Première Ligue/14e j. Après deux revers face au Havre, en championnat puis en Coupe de France, Montpellier reçoit un Lyon invaincu (12 victoires, un nul) ce vendredi à Grammont (21 h).

Will Montpellier have digested its disappointment born from the double defeat, championship and Coupe de France, at home, against Le Havre ? A disillusionment and questions which arose at the beginning of the week. How could a team that displayed a solid defense, especially at home, concede five against the second-to-last in D1 Arkema??
“There were more discussions with the group, the staff, the girls among themselves, to remobilize and understand, explains Yannick Chandioux. We had a chance to show that it was an accident with the second match against HAC. This desire to do better right away, to find solutions.” And it was a repeat performance.
“Even though the two matches were completely different. I didn't like the first one at all. The second one, we were more conquering, more incisive, two posts, saving the opponent, but the observation is the same. We lost twice in a row, at home, the second in a competition that we appreciate at the club (the Coupe de France). Now, when we know that we are playing Lyon right after, perhaps the future European champion, we have to quickly find solutions and remobilize everyone. Because we have an opponent who is going to shake us up and we are going to have to respond to Lyon's attacks.”

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“We need to try more, shoot more”

MHSC also scores less, with a lack of accuracy in both areas. “We have little luck but we need to try more, analyses Montpellier midfielder Cyrielle Blanc. Defensively, we need to be more focused and we will have to be against Lyon where we expect to suffer”.
Try more, shoot more. Yannick Chandioux confirms this dual necessity even if during the last two defeats, Le Havre showed surgical skill.

Mentally strong

“It requires more concentration, action, density on the defensive side. Against HAC, we played a team that was waiting for us. It will be reversed. We will have to be very solid, good on transitions and keep the ball when we are able to keep it because Lyon does not leave many crumbs to its opponents. Let's keep the ball and be dangerous the few times when we are able to be dangerous”.
Cyrielle Blanc adds the mental dimension which will be important. “We're going to have to defend, be as strong as possible defensively to avoid conceding a goal, but also, on the few chances we have, put them in the back of the net. We know that we suffer more in this type of match and mentally, it's harder, because we have less of the ball”. In the first leg, Montpellier had defended well, solidly, with time to hold on, time in the opposing camp, remembers the Hérault coach. “Let's approach the match in the most positive way possible, with confidence despite what has just happened to us, because it's certain that with the elimination in the Cup, we've taken a blow to the head“.