Nicollin takes aim at Marseille

Montpellier chairman Louis Nicollin has targeted the UEFA Champions League title ‘to shut the mouths of the people at Marseille’.

Nicollin, a known eccentric, had his hair dyed in Montpellier’s colours of orange and blue when the club won their inaugural Ligue 1 title last season.

But after claiming his team will aim for the Champions League title in the debut in the continental competition, the 69-year-old entrepreneur revealed his realistic side.

“I see myself at Wembley lifting the Cup with the big ears (the Champions League trophy) just to shut the mouths of the people at Marseille who are the only ones to have won it,” Nicollin said.

“It will be fun but let’s be serious.

“It would be good to finish in the top five positions, and win a cup.

“We would also like to finish third in our Champions League group to play then the Europa League.”

Nicollin has not given up on back-to-back French titles.

“We had a good season (in 2011-12),” Nicollin said.

“Everybody says you need to have the luck of the champion.

“We had it in a couple of games.

“To do it again? Why not, if our new recruits play well.”