In a shocking turn of events for French football, Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin announced the sacking of manager Michel Der Zakarian live on television following a dismal 5-0 defeat to Marseille.
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This decision came as Montpellier struggles in Ligue 1, having secured only one win this season, leaving them firmly at the bottom of the league table.
The match at Stade de la Mosson got off to a disastrous start for Montpellier when Marseille forward Elye Wahi scored just 44 seconds into the game. The first half saw further goals from Amine Harit and Tottenham loanee Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, putting Montpellier in a challenging position. In the second half, Mason Greenwood and Luis Enrique added to the humiliation, sealing Montpellier’s fate.
With only four points after eight games, Montpellier finds itself in a crisis, now trailing Angers on goal difference. In the immediate aftermath of the heavy loss, Nicollin took to DAZN France, revealing the shocking news of Der Zakarian’s dismissal, much to the surprise of the commentators present. “We can’t change 25 players, so, unfortunately, I’ve taken the initiative to stop Michel tonight,” he stated.
Nicollin placed the blame for the manager’s departure on the players, emphasizing the need for accountability. “I told the players that, thanks to their great job, they had fired the coach and that they need to take their responsibilities next week against Toulouse,” he remarked.
Der Zakarian, who returned to Montpellier for his second stint in February 2023 after previously managing the team from 2017 to 2021, now leaves the club searching for a new manager. Meanwhile, top-of-the-table Paris Saint-Germain continues to assert dominance in Ligue 1, currently sitting above second-placed Monaco after a recent 4-2 win over Strasbourg, where Senny Mayulu, Marco Asensio, Bradley Barcola, and Lee Kang-In all contributed to the scoreline.
Montpellier’s next match against Toulouse will be crucial as the club looks to bounce back from this significant setback.