The former Brest coach (2019-2021), who started his career in Dijon (2012-2018), did less well last year (13th) for his first experience in Hérault than his predecessor, Michel Der Zakarian, whose team had consistently placed in the top half of the table during his four-year tenure (2017-2021).

Dall'Oglio, 58 and under contract until 2024, sold his credit despite a first half of the season that ended in fifth place, attractive in the game and marked by the best passing time at mid-season (31 points) since winning the title in 2012. Everything then went downhill.

Montpellier has not won since March 20 in Bordeaux, ending the second half of the season with only twelve points.

Nothing has been better since the recovery.

Montpellier have not won a single warm-up match (Rodez +L2+, Espanyol Barcelona, ​​Clermont, Toulouse).

The concern spreads and the pressure mounts around Dall'Oglio, unsatisfied so far with the friendly matches.

Expanded staff, reshuffled workforce, promising young people with renewed contracts, the president Laurent Nicollin has nevertheless done everything during the off-season to meet the expectations of the Alesian.

“The coach wants players, I find players for him,” the Montpellier president slipped at the end of June before setting his roadmap.

"Our ambition is to finish in the top eight. We weren't far from it. But we had an end to the season that was not far from being cataclysmic. It's up to us to analyze it well to start this season as well as possible and to be in the top ten, which is our goal every season. We leave with a new squad. We start on something else. We are not going to rehash the last four months, "he explained.

Dispel doubts

To revive Montpellier, Dall'Oglio, a skilled communicator, will need quick and convincing results to dispel doubts and seize the opportunity of a rather interesting start to the season.

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To avoid a drop in tension and injuries, which interfered with the end of the season, the Cévennes technician will have a second physical trainer, following the promotion of Benoît Andrieu alongside Benjamin Guy.

"We will have different internal workings, especially in terms of physical preparation. In addition, we wanted to bring more competition to the group level, we wanted to expand it, put more quality", warns Dall'Oglio.

With five recruits and the promotion of young people, the Montpellier coach has strengthened his defense and brought added value in attack, where Valère Germain has never made forget Andy Delort, transferred to Nice during the last summer.

Savanier's loss of influence

Dall'Oglio renewed his side duo to solidify a defense which conceded as many goals last year (61) as two years ago (62 goals).

The arrival of Faitout Maouassa and Falaye Sacko, on loan from Bruges (Belgian D1) and Vitoria Guimaraes (Portuguese 1st division), aim to balance and stabilize the team.

"We are going to work on the defensive side. This is what we missed for part of the season. We need more discipline and rigor. There is also a reflection on the organization of the game", promises the technician, who weighed up two tactical options during the preparation.

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The Montpellier coach obviously expects better from his playmaker Téji Savanier, whose performance has matched that of Montpellier.

Brilliant until the truce, Savanier, who extended his contract in early June, had lost his influence.

"We need the Téji at the start of the season, the one who makes great matches. It's up to him to repeat the successful performances until December", recalled the president Laurent Nicollin, to better put his coach and his captain before their responsibilities.

© 2022 AFP