Metz project questioned after Coupe humiliation: can Stéphane Le Mignan and players recover? | OneFootball

Metz’s season spiralled with a 0-4 Coupe de France home loss to Montpellier, the bottom club’s project questioned and Stéphane Le Mignan under pressure.

According to L'Équipe, part of the crowd left early after calling for the coach and president to resign, while urging players to show fight. Montpellier are ninth in Ligue 2, and the defeat ends any Cup distraction.

Le Mignan left Lorient with optimism after a 1-1 draw on 4 January, but he was stunned by Sunday’s collapse. He accepted the team approached it poorly and fell well below Ligue 1 standards, delivering a rare half-time blast before sporting director Frédéric Arpinon warned against selfishness post-match.

The rout echoed league hammerings, 0-4 at Toulouse on 19 October and 1-6 at Lille on 26 October. They now face a derby at Strasbourg that is already decisive for what follows, and despite renewed debate over his future, Le Mignan will be on the bench on Sunday at 15:00. He believes he can relaunch a group he has called disunited after three straight autumn wins.

Several players have questioned the club’s medium and long-term vision, fearing short-term performance is suffering. President Bernard Serin is increasingly open to discussing a sale. With limited funds and little TV income, despite Brian Madjo’s €12m sale to Aston Villa shoring up the budget, Metz are gambling in the market.

Summer recruits have rarely convinced, and tactical fault lines persist between pragmatists and possession advocates. Benjamin Stambouli, 35, a key figure in Ligue 2 and initially a starter, has barely played since the Lille thrashing, totalling 13 minutes in four late cameos after losing the coach’s trust. Le Mignan maintains he remains in the four-for-two midfield rotation.

Captain Gauthier Hein, close to Stambouli and Metz’s most decisive player in Ligue 1 with five goals and four assists, headed straight for the tunnel and did not address disillusioned supporters. Two hours later he posted on Instagram, expressing regret and insisting he is fully committed, while stressing responsibility lies across the club and unity is essential.

Source: L'Équipe