Amiens – MHSC: Montpellier counts on its recruit and ten absentees for the Coupe de France match

Léo Leroy will return to the group for the trip to Amiens. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

The new defender Silvan Hefti will make his debut, Saturday January 6, during the 32nd Cup final in a team without many players who will participate in the African Cup of Nations or are injured . 

It all starts with a small addition and a big subtraction. To kick off the year 2024, Saturday in Amiens in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France, Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian will need both hands to take stock of his squad. A reinforcement: Silvan Hefti and ten absentees to challenge the Picards, ranked 12th in Ligue 2.

The new right side: Hefti, who arrives from Genoa, will be traveling to Amiens. The former Swiss Espoir international (26 years old), who plays indifferently in a four or five-man defense, trained on Wednesday with his new partners after signing a six-month loan with an option to move on. ;#39;purchase Tuesday. "The coach wanted reinforcement in this sector. It arrives quite quickly. “It’s a good thing,” noted President Laurent Nicollin.

The new right-back compensates for the combined selection of the Malian Falaye Sacko and the young Cameroonian Enzo Tchato. Both are part of the five Montpellier residents called to compete in the 34th African Cup of Nations (January 13 – February 11) in Ivory Coast .

Shortage also at left back

Malian central defender "Kiki"» Kouyaté, Guinean left-back Issiaga Sylla, Congolese goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud will also miss the first three or four matches at the very least. Winger Mousa Tamari left with Jordan for the Asian Cup (January 12 – February 10). If Der Zak has a right back, he deplores the absence of a left side. In addition to Sylla, Théo Sainte-Luce is treating a serious sprain in his right ankle contracted against Clermont (1-1) on November 29. And, the young Lucas Mincarelli, injured in the right adductor in front of Marseille, just before the winter break, could resume training at the start of next week.

🧡 Premier entraînement de 2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣✅

🔜🏆 𝙅-𝟰 #ASCMHSC #CoupeDeFrance pic.twitter.com/1p9Fdui0rD

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) January 2, 2024

"There aren't many of us. I don't have much choice, Der Zak projects, forced to adapt to cobble together a defense and perhaps use Maxime Estève as a left back. ;In the midfield, the Montpellier coach will have a little more latitude. Indeed, Léo Leroy, operated on for pubalgia on November 24, has been back since December 29, the date of the resumption of training. Wahbi Khazri, recovered from a thigh injury, is also operational.

Nordin absent, Coulibaly ready, Savanier suspended

The Nordin enigma remains. The Montpellier winger has still not returned to collective training. Hit in a calf in front of Clermont at the end of November, after a repeated injury to a thigh, he only started three matches during the first half of the season. "He is not fit. He hasn't done a session with us yet. I hope it will resume at the beginning of next week. I've been hoping for a while, Der Zak, whose attack has only scored four goals in the last eight games.

The convalescence of Nordin and the absence of Tamari open the door to Tanguy Coulibaly. Recruited in December, the former Stuttgart striker could start for the first time.

In Amiens, without suspended playmaker Téji Savanier, Montpellier will have to find other options than set pieces if it wants to add Cup rounds to its race to maintain.