Montpellier proved themselves to be one of the most solid teams in Ligue 1 this season but did not have quite enough in the tank to allow them to claim a European berth for next term.
They earned a reputation as being a ferociously difficult side to beat and the top teams in particularly often had a hard time overcoming them. Indeed, their season had been largely indifferent until they secured a 0-0 draw against Paris Saint-Germain at home before taking a point a week later against Monaco, too.
Michel Der Zakarian’s side were built around a solid defensive unit, which came into being after their poor start. It was then the coach switch to a 5-3-2 formation, in which wing-backs Jerome Roussillon and Ruben Aguilar both had large roles to play at both ends of the field.
Indeed, it was a feature of their play that going forward they produced a very limited amount. Giovanni Sio hit double figures but no one else in their ranks really impressed. Isaac Mbenza did get up to seven goals, but he found himself in and out of the team.
Although Montpellier found themselves in European contention almost to the last, it was this inability to be able to switch up a gear offensively that saw them finish rather tamely. Indeed, after beating bottom side Metz 1-0 in February, they picked up only two wins in the rest of the season.
A crucial run of matches in April, which saw them compete against three direct rivals for the Europa League spots, saw them suffer three successive defeats against Bordeaux, Nice and Saint-Etienne.
While this might have been a strong season, in which veteran defender Hilton again impressed, the way forward for Montpellier is a little cloudy. They have been based around a solid defence and so must maintain that aspect of their play while somehow getting more going forward. There is a delicate balance to be struck over the summer.
