“It’s hot for everyone”: Michel Der Zakarian and the MHSC launch their sprint in Le Havre without Chotard and Sylla

Chotard, blessé à un mollet depuis deux rencontres, est encore trop juste pour reprendre ce dimanche au Havre. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Montpellier's coach, Michel Der Zakarian, will be without midfielder Joris Chotard and defender Issiaga Sylla, injured, to begin the sprint towards maintenance, from Sunday March 31 in Le Havre (15 ;hours). Striker Wahbi Khazri is suspended, defender Falaye Sacko uncertain.

At the dawn of the truth sprint. Montpellier begins the first of the final eight matches of the season on Sunday at Le Havre with a paltry margin over its direct competitors for maintenance. He is one point ahead of Nantes, the play-off, and three over Metz, first relegated. He moves on a tightrope, shows little certainty and reassures himself as best he can.

League 1 ranking

"When we are in a position like ours, during the six matches before Monaco and Lens (33rd and 34th days) , our adversaries are like us, they have the fear meter at zero. It's hot for everyone, warns Michel Der Zakarian on the eve of a series of decisive meetings.

"The medical staff felt it was too short" for Chotard

Montpellier is embarking on this race for survival in Ligue 1 without all of its defensive strengths. Absent in front of Paris SG (2-6), during the match before the international break, Guinean left back Issiaga Sylla and midfielder Joris Chotard are still unavailable.

#football ⚽ S'il court, Joris Chotard (mollet) est "out comme Issiaga Sylla" (mollet) annonce Michel Der Zakarian. Falaye Sacko "a ressenti une douleur jeudi" et est incertain. Silvan Hefti est apte pour le déplacement au Havre #HACMHSC #teammhsc #Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/5j4lX7IWgw

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) March 29, 2024

The second has returned to racing since the start of the week, but has not recovered from a calf injury contracted in Nice (1-2) on the 8th. nbsp;March. "For this weekend, the medical staff felt that it was too short", explains Der Zak. Sylla, also injured in a calf during the warm-up against Kylian Mbappé's partners, relapsed this week. "He ran again this week, but felt some pain. He gave an image that is negative", testifies the Montpellier coach.

Hefti fit, Sacko uncertain, Fayad had to shorten the session

Recovering from a strained thigh, Swiss defender Silvan Hefti is, for his part, able to reintegrate a defense that has been weakened in recent times and perhaps also deprived of international play Malian Falaye Sacko, who injured his thigh on Thursday. As for midfielder and U20 international Khalil Fayad, he cut short the session this Friday morning.

In the absence of the suspended striker Wahbi Khazri, will the Montpellier coach revive the Nigerian center forward Akor Adams, who is lacking strength? ;rsquo;effectiveness since the end of October, or disrupt his plans by combining the Nordin-Tamari arrow duo ?

Also read: Relive Montpellier's Mousa Tamari's incredible hat-trick in Jordan's victory against Pakistan

The escapade to Pakistan and Jordan, during two qualifying matches for the World Cup, was good for the Jordanian international, author of five goals . "We need everyone. We need everyone to raise their level and work for the team", reminds Der Zak. Before a first truth match.