Mincarelli, Kouyaté, Omeragic: with several returns, MHSC must plug the gaps in its defense

Touché par la perte de son père, lundi, Omeragic est de retour. Midi Libre – Alexandre Dimou

Too fragile and diminished since the start of the season, the MHSC rearguard is finding its strength again this Sunday, September 22, for the reception of Auxerre (5 p.m.). Enough to get back on track ?

This has only happened once. Only once this season has MHSC been able to count on a professional left-back. And even then, Issiaga Sylla only stayed on the pitch for about ten minutes before coming off, injured in the thigh during the defeat against Nantes (1-3, matchday 3). As a symbol of a defense in dire straits, between goals conceded and absences galore.

This Sunday, the arrival of Auxerre, the only team to concede more in the first half hour (5 goals conceded against 4), could heal this gaping wound, materialized by 13 goals conceded – including 6 against PSG. If defections are still legion, Michel Der Zakarian will be able to count on the presence of Lucas Mincarelli, “Kiki” Kouyaté and Becir Omeragic. So many returns for a new stability ?

Der Zak knows at least that he will have a specialist on the left of his rearguard, rather than an intermittent (Sacko). There is "urgency" and Mincarelli, injured in June, "will start", announced the coach on Friday. A sign of the importance of the return of a 20-year-old player lacking rhythm but with obvious qualities.

Choices in hinge

Forced to throw the young Stefan Dzodic into the deep end at Rennes a week ago, Michel Der Zakarian will have more choices in hinge this time. As expected, “Kiki&rdquo Kouyaté has recovered from his knee.

The presence of Becir Omeragic was less so. Shaken by the death of his father last Monday, the Swiss international returned to Hérault on Friday. “We'll see tomorrow morning. We'll talk together”, his coach had confided. The Swiss, whose mental strength has been tested, will be in La Mosson this Sunday. With, no doubt, a tenfold desire.