Enzo Tchato, The 100 pailladin
On Saturday, during the match against Clermont, Enzo Tchato played his 100th game in all competitions for MHSC. It was a chance to look back on his career highlights.
What does playing 100 games for MHSC feel like?
“It’s a huge source of pride. It’s something I never imagined and didn’t really think about either… But when I realized it was getting close, subconsciously, I started counting down: 97, 98, 99, and 100 since Saturday night. At that moment, you realize how quickly time flies, that I’ve been here for quite a while now… It’s very emotional, and even when I think about it calmly, it’s the feeling of pride and gratitude that prevails, because it’s a powerful thing to reach this milestone with the club that trained me, the club I love, and the club I’ve always been with.”
The day he arrived at the club
“I must have been 6 or 7 years old, and my parents had taken me to try out for the soccer team one Wednesday afternoon in Grammont. At the time, my family was moving back from Qatar to settle in Montpellier, and my parents had asked my brothers and me what sport we wanted to play on Wednesday afternoons… and we chose soccer (smiles). That’s how it all started.”
The day he made his professional debut
“It was against Brest at Stade de La Mosson during the 2021–2022 season (April 3, 2022, a 1–2 loss, Ed.). I came on for the last 8 minutes. At the time, I didn’t really realize it; it was a childhood dream coming true, so the emotions were overwhelming. I’d been waiting for this since I was a little kid; I’d been training with the first team a lot in the weeks leading up to it, and I was happy that it was finally happening. When it happened, I felt a sense of relief.”
The day he signed his first professional contract
“It was during the following offseason (May 23, 2022). That was another dream come true. I’m the second player (after Sacha Delaye—Ed.) to have played in every youth category at MHSC, from the youth academy all the way up to the pros. Signing that contract was a crowning achievement; it was where I wanted to be—it was my dream. Once it happened, I told myself that a major milestone had been reached and that, now, the hardest part was yet to come. I remember a photo with my father (Bill), who played professionally here, with the President and me that day. It’s a beautiful image that means a lot to my family and me. I was very happy and very moved.”
The day he made his first start
“It was when ESTAC came to town for the first match of the 2022–2023 season (August 7, 2022). We won 3–2. It was tough, but I was happy. That’s when it really started, you could say.”
The day he managed to score at the Parc des Princes
It was the very next matchday! (smile) A memory that will stay with me forever. It was my first goal as a pro, against a team that had Messi, Neymar, Mbappé… At the time, I didn’t really realize it. Plus, we had lost, so you can’t celebrate fully. It was especially when I saw my family and loved ones after the match that I told myself it was amazing and that I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. The other emotionally powerful aspect is that this goal was 100% an MHSC product, since the assist came from Khalil (Fayad) in his first pro match. I was in a tight angle, but I saw a small opening, I placed the ball, and it went in! (smiles)
The day he recorded his first assist
“It was against AC Ajaccio, again at La Mosson, on August 31, 2022. I came on at the same time as Léo (Leroy), and he was the one who found me with a short through ball behind the defense. Then, I crossed the ball in one or two touches to Elye Wahi, who finished the play well before dedicating his goal to Dimitry (Bertaud), who had just suffered a cruciate ligament injury in his knee.”
The game in which he felt at his strongest
“I won’t single out any specific game because I’ve been feeling pretty good this season… There was Laval at home, Guingamp here too, Le Mans… Rather than naming a specific game, I’d rather talk about the momentum from our recent matches, where I’ve really been feeling in top form and full of confidence. It feels good because I feel like I’m starting to see the light, to show my true potential. It’s good for me, and for the people who support me. I hope this is just the beginning, that it’ll keep going like this, and that I’ll keep getting better and better.”
The day he experienced his greatest joy
“I’ll pick a recent memory—our win in Amiens on April 24: a tough game that we managed to win without conceding a goal. It’s really all about the team. I think the team is getting along really well this year. It’s a pleasure to come to practice every day. It’s actually a real treat. Everyone is happy, and we’re all working hard together. After Amiens, the team’s mood, if I may say so, was truly incredible, and we had a great time.”
The day he experienced his biggest sadness
“Our relegation to Ligue 2 a year ago. It was a very difficult season, both personally and as a team. Unfortunately, it will remain etched in our memories. Now, the goal is to bounce back and restore the club to its rightful place.”
The opponent he played against who impressed him the most
“Nuno Mendes (PSG). He’s too fast, he’s very powerful, and when I played against him, I really felt like he was unstoppable. It was truly impressive.”
The day he messed up the most
“The one that still sticks in my throat is our loss in Toulouse (October 2, 2022. It was my first pro season; we lost 4-2, and there was a controversial call early on because I was shoved during the play that led to a Toulouse goal. On top of that, I was playing left back. It was a really tough game.”
Le jour où un commentateur télé t’a qualifié de “Tchato fort”
“It was during the victory at Le Mans earlier this season. When people told me about it, I didn’t get it… But when I watched the clip again, it made me happy and I thought it was funny.”
In what area does he feel he has improved the most over the course of his 100 professional games?
“I focus on tactics and reading the game. There are also my crosses, even though I know they still get some criticism and there’s room for improvement.”
With that confidence, I feel better and I’m trying more things, especially on offense
. I’m better at getting the ball into the right areas, and with that confidence, I feel better and take more risks, especially on offense.
“That said, I’m well aware that I still have room to improve in every area. I can and must raise the bar even higher to become a more well-rounded player.”
His steady improvement each season and the mental toughness it takes to achieve that
“I think that despite everything that’s happened, everything that’s been said, I’ve always believed in myself. I never really doubted myself, even though, of course, there were some tough moments—I’m not going to lie. I knew what I was capable of and where I wanted to go. I know that if I’m here, it’s because I have the ability to play and perform well.”
I’ve really thrown myself into my work, because I’ve always been told that if you want to succeed in life, you have to work hard
The stats speak for themselves in a way and might help defuse some of the criticism. Every season, there’s been competition for my position, and yet, without making a big deal of it, I’ve still played about twenty games… and I don’t think that’s for nothing. I really threw myself into my work, because I was always told that to achieve what you want in life, you have to work hard. When things weren’t going well, I kept working, I didn’t give up, and I was convinced it would eventually pay off. Now, I have to keep working hard to continue improving.”
Did he pay the price for being named Tchato?
“I’d never really thought about it, but I noticed it came up quite often: people would often compare me to him or say, ‘Yeah, he’s here because of his dad,’ even though I didn’t see the connection. Maybe it’s naive of me, but to me, it’s completely unrelated. My father built his own career; he played for the club, and I’m proud of that, but if I’m here, it’s because of me: not because my name is Tchato, but because my name is Enzo Tchato. We’re all someone’s son (smile), but it never really affected me.”
Since 2022, he has been the fourth-most-used player on the MHSC roster
“I’m surprised by this statistic—I wasn’t expecting it—but it shows a certain consistency. I’m very happy about it.”
An attacking fullback…
“Going on the attack has always been in my blood ever since I started playing as a fullback. I’m a counter-attacking player. This season, with the coach, I’ve been given the opportunity to push a little further up the field. That allows me to contribute to the offense and try to make a difference, as well as bring my own strengths to the game.”
…In the best defense in the league
“When I compare it to last year—even though the league was different—it feels great to be part of the best defense in Ligue 2. We get along really well; we’re a tight-knit group, and not just the defenders. Whether it’s at the back, in the midfield, or up front, the whole team is putting in a lot of effort, and that’s also why being the league’s best defense so far is a real source of pride.”
His personal season
“The first half of the season was a bit tough for me because I wasn’t really ready for Ligue 2. I was still struggling to come to terms with the relegation, so I was feeling a bit unsure of myself.”
I’m playing one game after another, and I’m feeling better and better
My injury slowed me down, but it did me good too because it made me take a long, hard look at myself. Once I came back, I really hit my stride, and I feel that, since the start of 2026, I’ve been making great progress.
‘This is definitely my best season so far. I’m playing match after match, I’m feeling better and better, and I’m managing to make a difference, so it’s all positive, but I need to keep it up.’
The team’s season
‘It’s a bit like my own in the sense that the start was difficult because things had to fall into place. That said, there have been a lot of changes.’
The work carried out by the club, the management and the staff – including recruitment and improvements to the training centre – has been very positive.
People don’t necessarily realise it, but starting almost from scratch as we did wasn’t easy. The work done by the club, the directors and the staff – with recruitment, improvements to the training ground and so on – has been very positive.
‘For a first year of rebuilding, I think we’ve made a really good start. We really must highlight the efforts made by the club and by everyone to bounce back in this way.’
The away match at Red Star FC
“I think it will be completely different from the first leg, because the opening match of a season is always a bit special. In my view, even if we don’t make the play-offs, the season has been a success. I don’t think we have any regrets because we gave it our all in every match. Of course, we can always say to ourselves: ‘If we’d picked up points here, if that had happened’, but every team can do the same. I prefer to focus on the fact that our campaign has been positive and build on what we’ve achieved to create something even greater next year.”
The fans
‘I’d like to thank them because, even though there have been ups and downs between us, the criticism has also helped me. It’s enabled me to be here today, and I don’t think you criticise someone unless, deep down, you care about them.’
I want them to know that I’m proud to be a Pailladin and to thank them for their support
There was also love in it, and I never really held it against them, especially as, at times, their criticism was justified. I want them to know that I’m proud to be a Pailladin and to thank them for their support throughout the season and seasons. Thank you to them.”
The upcoming Gambardella Cup final for MHSC
“I watched their match in Rennes and they really put in a great performance. At MHSC, the youth academy has always been vital to the club’s future. It’s part of the club’s identity. I’m proud of them and I hope they’ll go out and win it. My heart is with them.”
