The seventh defeat in eleven Ligue 1 games since Romain Pitau took office was too much for Laurent Nicollin’s taste. The president of Montpellier Hérault thanked his coach on Tuesday, two days after the setback in Strasbourg. A successor must land from outside.
Appointed in mid-October to succeed Olivier Dall’Oglio, then reinforced before the World Cup, Romain Pitau (45) was finally dismissed on Tuesday, two days after a seventh defeat in eleven gameson the lawn of Strasbourg, during the 22nd day of Ligue 1. And less than four months after taking office.
The former 2012 French championto whom Laurent Nicollin had, by his own admission, offered “a poisoned gift“, and which the president had supported after his interim of four games by indicating that he was the only one who excited himon the market, did not resist the cascade of bad results and criticism regarding the game offered by the MHSC.
Frédéric Mendy and Pascal Baills are also leaving
Frederic Mendy , who had been chosen by Romain Pitau to support him, let it be known that he would not stay, he who had been trying to restore order, rigor and a smile in the locker room, since mid-November. On his side, Pascal Baills , historic deputy, was also dismissed. The you men have been laid off as a precaution”to use the official term.
The decision was communicated to those concerned at the end of the day’s meeting, which took place normally. The club has indicated that a press conference would be held Wednesday, at 3 p.m.
Less than a week away from a crucial reception, that of the Stade Brestois, and while MHSC sit fifteenth in Ligue 1 just two points clear of the relegation zonethe Paillade turns everything upside down, again.
Three coaches in one season!
The management had however affirmed that Romain Pitau would remain until June, convinced that the coach had the support of his group and that he was able to seek maintenance. Only, if the appointment of the former assistant of Olivier Dall’Oglio seemed to be welcomed positively, his relations with certain players in the workforce have not been idyllic in recent weeks.
But above all, the Paillade failed to recover. Relegation in the eleven games piloted by Romain Pitau (17th), the MHSC, among other things, failed to resolve its defensive concerns, with 23 goals conceded, the second worst total behind Estac. A balance sheet to which the debacle on the ground of Nice (6-1) largely contributed.
Last poker move
In his defense, it must be said that Romain Pitau inherited a quagmire, for his first experience as coach of a professional team: a dynamic as negative as certain behaviors within the group, players not all at the expected level and, for several of them, less and less concerned, in appearance, by the project . A worrying observation that the previous coach had already established.
To avoid reaching the decision of the day, the president had recently tried to remobilize his troops, by inviting the locker room executives around a good table in Montpellier. The opportunity to lecture them and remind them of the rules of the game and what is at stake, both for him and for his employees. But that was not enough, and the table was finally overturned on Tuesday.
It is now about whether the next on the list will be able to restart the machine, and if the defensive alterations made during the transfer window will eventually pay off. The state of emergency is in any case declared, in Montpellier. Sixteen days from the end, fans pray to heaven it’s not too late as the relegation zone hangs in the face of MHSC.
