The 2021-22 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for FC Metz, as Les Grenats finished a crushing 19th in Ligue 1, resulting in their relegation back to the second tier after three hard-fought seasons. Spearheading the struggling attack during this turbulent year under manager Frédéric Antonetti was veteran forward Nicolas de Préville, whose 5 goals topped the team's league scoring chart. It was a deeply disappointing year that remains a painful, yet defining, chapter in the club's modern history.