At the start of this last month of L1, it would not be surprising if Metz thought about swapping the dragon Graoully, effigy of the Lorraine city, for that of a phoenix as the Garnets seem to be reborn from their ashes. Two months ago, they were heading headlong towards obvious relegation, mired in a series of 9 defeats in 10 matches. Since then, they have bagged 4 unexpected successes (in 7 matches), that is to say as many as in the rest of their season. By relying on new factors.
A typical team finally clear
Laszlo Bölöni has long looked for a stable eleven. The Metz coach used thirty players, changed the system and increased the number of pairs. “We hadn’t managed to find the formula and that’s what we’ve been missing all year,” thinks right-back Maxime Colin. Automation was needed. We are starting to find them. »
From this more united team a few driving forces emerged. There is obviously Georges Mikautadze, the top scorer in L1 over the last two months (8 goals in 8 matches), but also some young people who have seized their chance alongside the executives, like the twirling winger Pape Amadou Diallo (19 years old) , midfielder Arthur Atta (21) or central defender Sadibou Sané (19).
A fighting mentality
The observation was clear several times and their public reminded them virulently: the players regularly displayed an attitude far removed from the fighting spirit expected of a promoted player, giving up their weapons too easily. The last two months have revealed the opposite behavior. “There was a “backs against the wall” effect, we no longer had a choice, believes Colin. The fact that everyone was burying us also shook our egos a bit. »
Metz remains on two essential successes, against Lens (2-1, April 12) and Le Havre (1-0, April 21), which change the approach to the matches: and if, despite a complicated schedule (Lille, Rennes, Strasbourg, PSG), FC Metz remained in L1? It has a slight advantage over HAC and Lorient, who also face formidable opponents.
A success in his favor
The Messins have lost 11 of their 17 defeats by a goal, sometimes from a penalty (Toulouse, 0-1, January 14) or a set piece (Montpellier, 0-1, December 17). The success changed sides, notably on the lob next to Adrien Thomasson against Lens or Emmanuel Sabbi’s post against the HAC, and there were fewer individual errors. Having attended a press conference before Lens, the superstitious Koffi Kouao has now decided to come see the journalists before each match. Everything is good to keep your lucky star.
