Marseille's 5-0 Triumph Over Montpellier Leads to Coach's Dismissal Amid Fan Violence
October 21, 2024Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin expressed emotional regret over the decision to fire Der Zakarian, stating it was necessary due to the team's poor performance and attitudes during the match.
The match was marred by disturbances among fans, with approximately 650 supporters attempting to attend despite a limit of 450, leading to police intervention.
The French Minister of the Interior condemned the violence surrounding the match, highlighting ongoing issues of fan violence in football.
On October 20, 2023, Olympique de Marseille (OM) achieved a decisive 5-0 victory over Montpellier, leading to the dismissal of Montpellier's coach, Michel Der Zakarian.
Montpellier is considering offering a coaching role to Gasset, who previously helped the team avoid relegation during his earlier tenure.
This loss marked Montpellier's sixth defeat in eight matches this season, prompting the club to seek a replacement for Der Zakarian, who had returned to coach the team in 2023 after a previous stint from 2017 to 2021.
Montpellier has struggled defensively this season, setting a record by conceding 26 goals in their first eight matches, the worst start in 55 years.
In the match, Marseille's Amine Harit and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored alongside Mason Greenwood, who contributed with a goal and an assist.
Nicollin acknowledged that while firing Der Zakarian was not a definitive solution, it was a necessary step to re-energize the team.
Elye Wahi opened the scoring for Marseille just 45 seconds into the match, establishing an early lead against a struggling Montpellier defense.
Following this victory, Marseille improved their standing, remaining in 3rd place, while Montpellier's poor performance left them with only four points from seven matches.
Next week, Marseille will face PSG in a highly anticipated match, while Montpellier will host Toulouse, making it a crucial game for their season.
Summary based on 11 sources