Montpellier head coach Rene Girard has praised newly promoted Reims and expects a tough clash in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Girard’s side have begun the defence of their inaugural league title slowly, having picked up just four points from as many games.
Montpellier sit 13th on the Ligue 1 table, just one spot ahead of Reims, who finished second in Ligue 2 last season and have impressed Girard so far in the French top tier.
“It will be tough,” Girard said.
“I’ve watched their game.
“It’s a fresh new team, they are quite good at the moment, they started the league very well, so yes, it will be an interesting game.
“It’s always interesting to play against teams who play football.”
With their first UEFA Champions League group game against Arsenal looming, Girard knows Montpellier need to develop a winning mentality.
But Montpellier’s head coach has argued his side has only missed out early in the season by fine margins and could easily be better situated on the Ligue 1 table.
“I’ve learned everything goes up and down very quickly in football,” Girard said.
“We could have had two or three points more after the first three matches.”
Girard hopes his team’s win away to Sochaux prior to the international break will be the start of a positive run of form.
“I liked that the players said our season starts after that (victory),” Girard said.
“But it’s not an end.
“We won at Sochaux, we took three points, we have another away game at Reims … it’s never easy to play two away games in a row.”
