Montpellier-Lyon: How was Laurent Blanc shaped by the Montpellier Hérault Sport Club? – Eurosport EN

In football, anything is possible and Laurent Blanc can attest to that. Before becoming one of the best liberos in the world and in the history of French football, the new coach of Olympique Lyonnais held the keys to Montpellier’s attacking game for a long time, even to the point of becoming its top scorer. its history with 84 achievements in all competitions (note: between 1983 and 1991). It’s a different era, but there’s no doubt that the 56-year-old technician will receive a more than warm welcome from the Mosson public on Saturday afternoon.Ballon d’Or “When we first met, I didn’t given the evidence”: Benzema, the story of a conviction10/17/2022 At 10:17 p.m.Cévenol will always be a bit like home in Montpellier, as he recalled Thursday at a press conference: “The stadium has changed but that’s where it all started for me. There are people I really like and it’s a city I love. La Mosson is a special place for me.”Because before becoming world champion or the feared defender of OM, Inter Milan or Manchester United, Laurent Blanc was shaped by the MHSC. A club that took the time to let the man we now call “The President” grow. “At the time, he was a shy boy and the club atmosphere helped him a lot,” said Robert Nouzaret, who launched the future European champion in Division 2 in September 1983. Laurent Blanc was then 17 year. Pierre Mosca is also convinced of this. Montpellier was “the club he needed” to express his full potential. “Like many Cévennes, he is attached to the values ​​of humility, family, work, while being stubborn (laughs). Laurent was able to knead in the Montpellier mold and express himself at the highest level, confides to us the former Hérault coach from 1987 to 1989. If he had been at OM or Monaco in his youth, he might not have had this peace of mind. In Montpellier, he was pampered by the president, loved by the public, his partners and his coaches.” Originally from Rousson (Cévènnes), Laurent Blanc finds his parents “every week” during his first years in pro. And during each summer vacation period, he stays in the local cocoon in Carnon (Hérault), reveals Pascal Baills, who joins his former coaches on the importance of the MHSC in the trajectory of his friend. “Despite the injuries (broken jaw, hamstrings, etc.) that may have slowed him down at the start of his career, the club took the time with Laurent by maintaining his confidence.”, he underlines . He negotiated bonuses with President Nicollin and often got what he asked for From his earliest years, Laurent Blanc was able to prove himself to be indispensable in the eyes of his coaches. “Laurent, I only have good memories of him. On the pitch, he had so many exceptional arguments that it was difficult not to appreciate him. He was a good and a good player, supports Robert Nouzaret, later became sporting director of Montpellier. In addition, Laurent was a man without problems, really very classy. He had all the qualities to succeed in life. ” Could we detect the fiber of the future coach at the dawn of his 20 year ? “Not yet”, answers, in all honesty Pierre Mosca, who recalls that the role of leader was held at that time by the former Albert Rust, Nenad Stojkovic, Julio Cesar, Roger Milla or Gérard Bernardet. Only internationals (note: French, Yugoslavian, Brazilian and Cameroonian), apart from Bernardet. a false impression because he never cheated on the pitch, where he was smart.” “Pierrot speaks of a particular period when Laurent was often injured. It was complicated for him to assert himself at that time”, adds Pascal Baills, who describes his ex-teammate as “a guide in the placement and the replacing”. Because with the seasons passing by on his young counter and the title of European Espoirs champion gleaned in 1988, Laurent Blanc takes an essential place in the Montpellier workforce. Blanc, the risk of being old-fashioned: “The question is whether “He was the natural leader of a team that still included Michel Der Zakarian, Jacek Ziober or Carlos Valderrama, remembers Claude Barrabé, who arrived at the MHSC in the summer of 1990. This n he was not someone who shouted on all the roofs, but by his knowledge of the game, he managed to get everyone to agree. Then he organized meetings between players when things were not going well. I remember at the moment At the time, there had been a working meeting at the UNFP on the length of the contract and he had managed to get all the players from Montpellier to Paris. Despite his young age, he was listened to. “And respected, even at the within the highest authorities in Montpellier. Because Laurent Blanc was going to negotiate the match bonuses in person with the president Louis Nicollin. “Often he got what he asked for, recalls Claude Barrabé. Laurent was sure of himself and knew what he wanted for the team. When he negotiated, it was not for the eleven on the field but for the twenty professionals. Even if he may seem cold at first glance, he is someone open to discussion. I liked his human side in the group. “From middle to liberoIt is also in Montpellier that Laurent Blanc experienced a major change in his playing career. During the 1989-90 season, Aimé Jacquet and then Michel Mézy asked him to step down as libero. “At the start, he was reluctant, remembers Pascal Baills. I think that internally, he was convinced of it too, but he said that it was too early because he wanted to touch more balls in the middle. ” On this turning point of the career of Laurent Blanc, Pierre Mosca reveals a new version to us. “I will always remember that day when he came to see me in my office to say to me: ‘Coach, I would like to play libero’… At that time, we were third in D1 and I had the best central hinge with Nenad Stojkovic and Julio Cesar. So I answered him: ‘Who do I take out in this case? No, you’re young, you stay in the middle and you run’. In addition, he had two pit bulls at his sides: Jean-Claude Lemoult and Gérard Bernardet. Lolo only had to conclude the actions and he did it very well by the way. I think he had made this proposal to me for the sake of comfort. But when Aimé Jacquet succeeded me, he took the place with the departure of Julio César to Juventus.”Laurent Blanc won the 1990 French Cup with Montpellier.Credit: Getty ImagesLaurent Blanc exploited the quintessence of his immense potential behind ? There is no debate listening to his former Montpellier teammates. “It’s logical that he took a step back because it allowed him to see the game better, notes ex-keeper Claude Barrabé. When I had him in front of me, it was easier. Each time , he felt the shots and cut the trajectories of the opposing balls. But he also remained a skilful player in front of goal because he quickly analyzed the game. After the training sessions, we did a series of shots on goal and he said to me: ‘I’m going to do 10/10’. And often, he won the duel.” Even as a defender, Laurent Blanc continued to inflate his offensive statistics before his departure for Naples in 1991. Thirty-one years later, “The President” returns to the Mosson to glean the three points. 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