Morocco international midfielder Younes Belhanda has proclaimed his unhappiness with the French champions’ start to the 2012-13 Ligue 1 season, while adding that La Paillade could concede eight goals in their UEFA Champions League opener against Arsenal at the Stade de la Mosson on Tuesday.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions, who were defeated 3-1 by newly promoted Stade de Reims on Friday, have tallied just one win in their first five league matches this season.
Furthermore, Montpellier have already lost three league matches this term after losing just six times in 38 fixtures during last season’s Ligue 1 winning campaign.
“We did everything to win the game. I am very disappointed. I don’t usually have any reason to reproach my players, but what is happening at the moment is a bit depressing,” added MHSC manager Rene Girard following his club’s loss to Stade de Reims on Friday night.
“We did quite well in the first half…We need to waken up quickly because, if not, we are going to be in for a big fall on Tuesday.
“We are conceding silly goals. It is quite worrying. This is the first evening where I have had to ask myself some serious questions. We lost our values.
“We can be ashamed of ourselves tonight.”
UEFA Champions League Betting Odds | Montpellier v Arsenal
Montpellier (9/4) v Arsenal (13/10); Draw (9/4)
Total Goals: Over 2.5 (23/20); Under 2.5 (4/6)
Belhanda is 15/2 to score first against Arsenal at the Stade de la Mosson on Tuesday.
Büttner and Powell net debut goals at Old Trafford
Manchester United summer signings Alexander Büttner and Nick Powell celebrated their Manchester United debuts with a goal apiece in the Red Devils’ 4-0 rout of Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The former Vitesse left-back, who also set up Javier “El Chicharito” Hernández in the 63rd minute, was arguably United’s top performer, but Paul Scholes’ supporters might beg to differ.
Nonetheless, the Dutchman’s delightful debut has surely put the pressure on Patrice Evra to reassure Sir Alex Ferguson that he should be the Red Devils starting left-back.
Will Büttner overtake Evra on United’s depth chart this season? That remains to be determined, but the Dutchman’s man-of-the-match display against Wigan might just be enough to win him a Champions League start against Turkish giants Galatasaray S.K. on Wednesday, September 19.
UEFA Champions League Betting Odds | Manchester United v Galatasaray
Manchester United (1/3) v Galatasaray (10/1); Draw (9/2)
Total Goals: Over 2.5 (8/15); Under 2.5 (7/5)
Büttner is 14/1 to score last against Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
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