Metz in crisis: Laszlo Boloni’s team in real danger of relegation

FC Metz are in the midst of a full-blown crisis, currently stuck in a series of seven consecutive league defeats (Unprecedented since 1950) as well as a limp exit on penalties to Clermont Foot in the Coupe de France. With Olympique Lyonnais’ upturn in form, Les Grenats need to find form quickly if they want to avoid a swift return to Ligue 2, from which they were promoted in second place at the end of last season. 

According to L’Équipe, recent tension between a small minority of Metz supporters and law enforcement during and after their home defeat to FC Lorient last weekend (February 4) is symptomatic not just of poor results on the field, but also issues off it. A strained relationship between Director of Football Pierre Dréossi and Head of Recruitment Bouabdellah Tahri is contributing to the current malaise around the club, with both under intense scrutiny following the relative failure and dysfunction in recent transfer windows. Dréossi, an experienced sporting director after spells with Panathinaikos, Paris FC, Stade Rennais and LOSC Lille, allegedly feels undermined by the perceived favouritism towards Tahri, a retired middle and long distance runner by trade appointed by club president Bernard Serin. According to reports, the two men came to blows with the inexperienced yet ambitious Tahri suggesting that Dréossi was targeting players beyond their prime. 

What does Metz’s Romanian coach Laszlo Boloni make of the situation?:

“A crisis? I wouldn’t use this word. It’s clear we’re in a difficult moment. I don’t want to discuss the transfer window because it’s a sensitive subject, I will discuss what needs to be discussed but not the things that will lead to controversy. There isn’t a club in the world in which the