In Toulouse, life is less rosy

It was less than a month ago, on November 9, a date now engraved in the hearts of Toulouse residents, that TFC achieved one of the greatest feats in its history by taming Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (3 -2). The atmosphere was less warm this Sunday at the Stadium, where the protégés of the pink city conceded a draw in the last moments against Lorient (1-1). A habit this season in the championship, with seven points lost in added time (Clermont, Brest, Le Havre and therefore FCL), and even ten if we extend to the last ten minutes. Which often leaves one with regrets and allows us to make this sad observation: Toulouse has only two victories in Ligue 1 after 14 days, as many as in five Europa League matches. The last success in the domestic competition dates back to 1^is October, it was against Metz (3-0), and here are the Violets at the 14^e place, with one point ahead of the Lorient roadblock and three over Clermont. The enchanted parenthesis in the European Cup, where Téf is guaranteed to spend the winter for the first time in its history, is not enough to avoid the first shocks linked to the situation in the championship.

Comolli’s bets

Bamba Dieng’s equalizer this weekend seems to have shaken up the tranquility of Toulouse and brought out everyone’s frustrations. According to information on the site The Violetsconfirmed by The Team and RMC Sport, Damien Comolli, accompanied by two other members of the TFC strategic committee, invited himself into the locker room after the meeting and threw a tantrum in front of the staff and players. The Toulouse president, a data enthusiast, is not known for taking a pinch of salt when things aren’t going well or he doesn’t like things. However, it was he who placed Carles Martinez Novell in Philippe Montanier’s staff at the end of 2022, at a time when Toulouse was not in a more comfortable position than today in the championship (13^e with 16 points in 16 days). Before offering the 39-year-old Spanish technician the role of head coach at the end of spring.

« Our club is at a decisive turning point in its evolution. To begin this new cycle, we are convinced that Carles is the right person to carry out our ambitions.Comolli then supported. This appointment marks an important step in our elevation as a club, and we look forward to seeing the positive results that Carles will bring to our team. » At the same time, TFC had to manage and digest the fact of having won the Coupe de France. After the great happiness and the celebration, we know that it is not always easy for a club which is not programmed to win to start a dynamic. Sometimes you have to accept turning pages, that’s what Toulouse and Comolli chose to do, by showing Montanier the door, but also by regenerating, voluntarily or not, part of the squad. The Violets thus lost Maxime Dupé, Brecht Dejaegere, Branco Van den Boomen, Rhys Healey and Stijn Spierings, all of whom left free, even if the last city returned to cheers after a few weeks spent in Lens. Farès Chaïbi and Rafael Ratão were sold, Anthony Rouault was loaned, and it is a new team which must learn to live and play together.

Novell party coming soon?

Thijs Dallinga did not move during the summer. The Dutch striker has planted eight times this season in all competitions, it was he who opened the scoring with a header this Sunday against Lorient, but he did not digest having started the match on the bench. « We will talk about it internally and not on television », he concluded during his interview given to broadcaster Prime Video. He had already said too much, in fact, assuring that he had not received an explanation from Novell and launching a very sarcastic « maybe you know more than me » to the journalists present on the set. « I’m very frustrated to be on the benchhe began. I wonder why, I definitely wonder, but when I go on the pitch I have to stay professional to help the team and try to score. I can’t do anything more. »

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— James (@calciomalpoli) December 3, 2023

A temporary frustration or a deeper discomfort with your trainer? This outing reflects at least personal discomfort and cannot help the Spaniard in his quest for victories. It is not currently threatened, according to The Team, but football remains football and he will need results before the break. The calendar is busy, with two upcoming trips to Lyon and Linz, in Austria, before ending the year with the receptions of Rennes and Monaco at the Stadium. « On termine 13^e and all the indicators showed that we could have finished 10^e or 11thhad annoyed Comolli at the end of last season before firing Montanier. It’s the first time since we’ve been at the club that we’ve underperformed. » We do not know what the indicators prove this time or if they encourage patience, but Novell will undoubtedly need points in the coming days to spend the holidays warm and sit on the Toulouse bench on January 3, at the Parc des Princes, during the Champions Trophy.