“They can bring me another banner”: MHSC coach Michel Der Zakarian calls for unity against Metz

Michel Der Zakarian ne veut pas dramatiser la réception de Metz, premier relégable, dimanche. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

To face Metz on Sunday at La Mosson, in a duel of poorly ranked players, the Montpellier coach believes that “everyone must come together”. The technician can also count on the return of Jordanian international Mousa Tamari, he confirmed this Friday, February 16.

"There are thirteen matches remaining and the thirteen matches are important", put things into perspective,  Friday at a press conference, Michel Der Zakarian two days before the match at La Mosson facing in Metz, during the 22nd day of Ligue 1.

"You can lose Sunday and save yourself. You can win and not run away. There are still thirteen matches left, he says, to better shield his team from the burden of a duel between poorly ranked players, a six-point shock.< /p>

To bring a little lightness to a meeting between Montpellier, which has the same number of points as the barrage, and Metz, first relegated, Der Zak can count on the two attackers: Arnaud Nordin, author of & ;#39;a promising comeback ahead of Lyon (1-2) on Sunday, and Mousa Tamari, who returned from Jordan on Wednesday, the day after the Asian Nations Cup final.

"If Mousa Tamari trains, he is fit"

"Mousa trained this morning. If he trains, he is fit,” he smiles in relative relaxation to remove any ambiguity about his presence on Sunday in front of Metz, despite a shoulder dislocation contracted on Saturday during the final against Qatar (3-1). "The guy played the whole game. If he can play the whole match there, he can play the whole match with us, he repeats.

𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓 ! 🔥🧡💙

🎙️ «  Waiting for next game » ⚽️🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/JT94dog2jZ

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) February 16, 2024

A week after the return of African defenders, Sylla, Kouyaté and Sacko, Der Zak recovers the Jordanian striker, absent in the first six matches of 2024, to rouse an attack paralyzed by doubt and ineffectiveness, fatal against the Lyonnais.

The Montpellier coach has "twenty-two outfield players and three goalkeepers", namely his entire squad with the exception of central defender Christopher Jullien, still handicapped by an arch injury, and the young striker Axel Guéguin, victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee and operated on next week.

Swiss international Becir Omeragic did not take part in the session on Friday, nor in the opposition the day before. Hampered by the same injury as Jullien, the young defender (21 years old) is currently applying for a starting place against Metz.

"I'm waiting for the fans to make some noise"

Der Zak also reminds us that he needs everyone, that he needs 'the substitutes to impact and bring something when they come in', that he needs "everyone to come together to win matches".

Der Zak expects the public of La Mosson, in particular that of La Butte, to be behind the team, to sublimate it. 'I expect them to encourage the players, I don't expect anything else from them. I'm waiting for them to make noise, to get the team moving forward, he insists.

🎙 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭
🗣 Michel Der Zakarian

⚡️ #MHSCFCM pic.twitter.com/aoFm7pzERn

— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) February 16, 2024

"They can bring out another banner for me, it's no problem", he assures us. Sunday, after Lyon's two goals, the Ultras released a vengeful banner: "MDZ: 3 points lost because of an "idiot", how much to gain thanks to you ?"

Der Zak takes the public's discontent on his shoulders, but hopes that the "supporters encourage the team and don't whistle at the players", especially the' center forward Akor Adams, lacking in effectiveness in the league for more than three months. "With my staff, we see him, we just talk to him. We have confidence in him, in him being effective in front of goal,” he encourages. Even if time is running out at the dawn of the sprint to maintain.