Propelled head coach of Montpellier Hérault on Monday evening, Romain Pitau didn’t have time to think, but didn’t need to anyway : “It’s a special situation, I didn’t expect it. It is true that there was not much time for reflection. On the other hand, I have been preparing for it for a few years, I passed the diploma and worked a lot for it. I was hoping this would happen one day. Unfortunately, the happiness of some is the misfortune of others. Today, I am in this position. I experienced a lot with Montpellier and it is a great pride for me, today, to be able to lead the team. So there was no hesitation at all.”
In the shadow of the coach as assistant in charge of young people since the appointment of Olivier Dall’Oglio in the summer of 2021, after having piloted the reserve, the former French champion finds the light, ten years after offering Montpellier its first title of champion of France.
I was hoping this would happen one day!
And a lot of Hérault supporters display both confidence and their happiness to see one of the heroes take the reins for the first time from the first team:I thank them for being behind us (…) There is a craze. Afterwards, there is a credit at the start. But when you take that stance, it’s the results that give the credit. We all know the rules of the game. We will make sure to give the maximum and be ourselves. It is the most important. We’re not going to start getting fired up or euphoric because I took that job. You have to stay yourself. There is enthusiasm, you have to use it because you are going to need it. We will need the supporters. And then, I hope everything will be fine.
There is a credit at the start. But when you take that stance, it’s the results that give the credit. We all know the rules of the game.
The paillade spirit above all!
The player he was will not be enough for the coach he wants to become. Romain Pitau knows it: only the victories will count for the admiration of the supporters to endure. And the coach has little time to convince. Its president has warned and wants 18 to 20 points by the trucein other words two victories, at least, over the next four days: “it’s up to him to prove himself, which I don’t doubt“, launched Laurent Nicollin, Monday evening.
To speak of revolution would be a very big word
Romain Pitau therefore set to work, accompanied by his three assistants (Pascal Baills, Jean-Yves Hours and Benoît Andrieu). And if he does not intend to lead “revolution“, he still intends to make changes, guided by a leitmotif, the famous paillade spirit : “I did not meet the players individually, but my collective speech was to let the values of the club transpire, on the ground (…) We will insist on the state of mind, because there are a lot of qualities in this group. It lacks this click, this little thing, this supplement which will make it possible to make a difference. But from there to talk about revolution, it’s a very big word (…) I said that I wanted to inculcate this dynamic, because the strengths of this club is to develop this aspect there. We will have to do it with more regularity, even if it has been done at times“.
For behavior, attitude and state of mind, things are clear. For the ground, a little less. Anyway, Romain Pitau did not let go of the scheme he wanted to put in place and on the men on whom he was counting on to start, this Saturday, against Olympique Lyonnais: “We will have to progress in both sectors, be very effective defensively. We have found a little defensive solidity in the last games. We will still have to show more character, defensively. And also, on the offensive level, find relationships to bring even more generosity than on the last outings (…) I will strive to be efficient. If it is necessary not to have possession but to be efficient, we will know how to do it too“.
A Lyon with fangs?
And it’s not just any match that awaits the former midfielder, for “his debut in Ligue 1”. The reception of Lyon is that of a particular adversary “because of the origins of the president“, who has also just cut off the head of his trainer, Peter Bosz, to replace him with the Alesian Laurent Blanc… former Montpellier defender.
I will focus on being efficient
A sick team, but nevertheless formidable. That said, no matter Romain Pitau does not ask himself the question of whether it is the right time to play for OL then to go to Rennes the following weekend. No advantage of questioning at home concerning the period, not really ideal for getting your claws: “I have received a lot of messages lately. And a former coach sent me: in football, you have to be at the right time, in the right place. He said to me: you are in the right place. It is true that it is exceptional to be able to do that here. Now, the right moment, I will decide it. It is I who will instill this dynamic. There is never an easy opponent. This is what we do with matches to make them easy or complicated. We will try things, and if it does not succeed, we will try again next time. It is up to me to instil this dynamic. Whether it’s Lyon or another team, it’s not the most important thing.”