Jean-Louis Gasset on his return to Montpellier: ‘When I saw the club suffering, I couldn’t not come back.’ | OneFootball

Jean-Louis Gasset has returned to Montpellier HSC for a third stint as manager of his hometown club. Speaking at his unveiling, he said that he had no choice but to come out of retirement to help the struggling club.

With the club currently rock bottom of Ligue 1, having conceded 26 goals in their first eight league games, Michel Der Zakarian was fired in the wake of Sunday’s 5-0 defeat against Olympique de Marseille at the Stade de la Mosson.

Gasset, who began his managerial career with MHSC, immediately emerged as the favourite to succeed Der Zakarian. The former Ivory Coast manager had retired from the game following his interim spell at Marseille last season. However, he said that he had no choice but to come out of retirement after getting the call from Laurent Nicollin.

“When I saw the club suffering, I couldn’t not come back. Not at Montpellier; not at my club. I am at home here,” said the returning Gasset, who is under no illusion as to the task at hand.

“It will be hard but we will manage. We will start work this afternoon […] there are still three-quarters of the league season remaining. It is the club’s 50th anniversary this year and we have to be proud. Today, the priority is getting the train back on the rails – together,” he added.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle