Modibo Sagnan: "Montpellier deserve to stay in Ligue 1"

You have a big game against Lille on Sunday. How are you preparing for it?

Modibo Sagnan: They're strong this season, so we expect a tough contest, especially as we're not in a great position ourselves. But we'll be at home in front of our supporters and we'll give everything to try to pull off a surprise. We've had a good week of preparation and we'll try to give everything in this game.

Incidentally, you're on the back of a home win against Brest. There must naturally be a desire to build on that. What will you base your approach on for this game?

Modibo Sagnan: Against Brest we made a very good start to the game. We created plenty of chances, we scored early and it went our way. So against Lille we'll need to be ready from the first minute and, above all, give everything.

There's one peculiarity about Montpellier since the start of the season: you haven't yet drawn a single game. How do you explain that?

Modibo Sagnan: It's the moment we're in, a bad spell where we can't hold on to a result. That's why we're in this position at the moment. I don't know if we can really find an explanation, but what's certain is that we started the season badly, we know that, and we just need to turn things around so we don't get cut adrift.

For now you're in a relegation battle. Was that a scenario you had envisaged before the start of the season?

Modibo Sagnan: We know that in football anything can happen. We could win a lot of games or lose them. Unfortunately, we're in a situation where we're losing more. But we're not giving up and we know we have to hang in there.

Mentally and in terms of morale, how is the squad after this start to the season?

Modibo Sagnan: It's a difficult situation, especially as we have a lot of young players in the team. It affects us all, because it's also the club's 50th anniversary year. So everybody was really keen to have a big season. In pre-season we'd seen how much desire there was from everyone. Then the season didn't start as planned and of course we're disappointed, but we won't let our heads drop. We have to try to turn things around as quickly as possible.

There are still reasons for hope, though. For example against Saint-Etienne, you lose the game but the performance is far from poor...

Modibo Sagnan: That's how this spell is. When you've got no luck, no breaks, the slightest mistake costs you. That's what's happening to us at the moment. Even against Monaco we played well, but unfortunately we conceded late on. We played very well against Saint-Etienne, we should even have taken the three points, but in the end we conceded there too and came away with nothing. As I say, you make your own luck too, and it's up to us on the pitch to give ourselves the means.

Mathematically there's still time to save yourselves, especially as your direct rivals are only a few points away. What will you need to do to win games and pick up the points required?

Modibo Sagnan: Yes, there are games left and we're not cut adrift yet, but we need to eliminate the little mistakes that make us lose the thread of matches. We have to score from our chances and stay solid at the back. Simply not conceding would be a step towards going on to win. We'll need efficiency in both boxes to climb back up. We're still in the race and we'll give everything because this club deserves it.

Last season Montpellier finished 12th with a comfortable cushion over the teams fighting against relegation. Now you're in that fight alongside them. Is the standard higher, or has Montpellier got weaker?

Modibo Sagnan: It's not really about the standard, we just started the league campaign badly and that's our fault. Yes, all the teams are working to raise their level, but so are we. But it's mainly our poor start to the season that has put us in this situation.

On the international front, there was good news this November with qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. As a Malian, it must naturally be a joy, we imagine.

Modibo Sagnan: A joy and even a source of pride. We were waiting for that because we have a very good team. So we secured qualification and everyone is happy.

Read also : Montpellier - Modibo Sagnan: "Since I was very small, I've been immersed in Malian culture"

On a personal level, you haven't been called up for a few months, since the change of national team coach. The same goes for your club team-mate Falaye Sacko. Have you had any exchanges with Tom Saintfiet?

Modibo Sagnan: We exchanged messages around a game in which I scored, and he congratulated me. Now, given the club's current situation, we're in a delicate position, so perhaps that plays a part. I'm not being called up, but I follow the team, I watch the results and I hope we keep winning.

Isn't it frustrating to go from being a starter to not even being called up? Especially as you're not injured...

Modibo Sagnan: Not at all, at my level. Today you're not selected, next time you're called up. That's part of international football too. The main thing is that the team keeps winning.

In 2025 the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will resume. Will getting back into the national team be among your goals?

Modibo Sagnan: Of course. The aim is to play as many games as possible. Now we'll see how it goes, because at the moment we're in a difficult situation at club level.

In 2025 the World Cup qualifiers will also continue. Do you still believe in it despite the poor start?

Modibo Sagnan: Yes, of course. We have a strong squad. We admittedly started the qualifiers badly, but there are games left. We'll take them one at a time and try to win them.