Will Jean-Louis Gasset have a full squad by the end of the season? The pailladin technician still has to deal with the absentees for the important trip of the MHSC to Saint-Etienne, this Saturday, November 23, for the 12th day of Ligue 1. But, in the wake of the great victory against Brest (3-1) before the international break and the club’s 50th anniversary celebrationsthere is still good news for the former deputy of Laurent Blanc, with the returns of midfielder Joris Chotard and defender Becir Omeragic. Téji Savanier will also be there at Geoffroy-Guichard, after having served his suspension, following his exclusion against Toulouse.
But Jean-Louis Gasset will have to improvise on the offensive level, for several matches, sinceAkor Adams, who was injured against SB29, will be unavailable for several more weeks. “We’ll probably see him again before the end of December, but for the moment, he hasn’t even started jogging again.“, specified the Montpellier coach at a press conference this Thursday, who admits not having many solutions to replace the Nigerian striker: “il you have to invent! We try to find and we invent, we create, we have to invent in relation to how we play away, already, Saint-Etienne has its particularities, we will try to find the right formula.“Against Brest, Wahbi Khazri occupied the forefront of the attack when the 24-year-old center forward left.
In addition to Akor Adams, winger Othmane Maama is also on the flanktouched with the Moroccan U20 selection. “He has a heaviness behind his thigh, the medical staff tells me that it is better not to take any risks with the travel and the two matches in three days, given his history“, explains Jean-Louis Gasset.
Jordan Ferri and Birama Touré suspended
No risk either with Khalil Fayadwhich was initially scheduled to resume this Saturday on the Saint-Etienne lawn: “He felt a little something during the last test, we don’t want a relapse, we’re on the razor’s edge.“Even if everything has not been resolved physically since his arrival, the Hérault coach believes that the last 15 days have been useful in getting back on track:”You can’t play football if you’re not physically well, and you also had to be mentally well and the victory against Brest was a good thing. We have moved forward!“
Beyond the wounded, Jean-Louis Gasset will also not be able to count on Jordan Ferri and Birama Touré this Saturdaythe two experienced midfielders are suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards and will return for the reception of Lille on December 1st.
Saint-Etienne, not a turning point for Benjamin Lecomte
And there is no question of putting too much pressure on the players for this meeting against a direct competitor for maintenance. “I know it’s going to be a long thing, no matter what we do on Saturday. It’s over seven months. Good result, bad result, draw on Saturday: we will try to collect points, limit the damage until the end of December, but after that, there will still be two championship matches and the entire return leg. You should never lose hope“, says Jean-Louis Gasset when Benjamin Lecomte refuses to speak of a turning point : “All matches are turning points in our situation, what we need is to take points, we are aware that it is a direct competitor, but it will be the same against Lille and Lens, the consequences, we will draw them afterwards .“
Obtaining Montpellier’s first away victory of the season would in any case allow the MHSC on an accounting level to catch up with its opponent of the evening, play-off, or even with other favorable results, temporarily exit the relegation zone.
Saint-Etienne-Montpellier, you can experience it this Saturday on France Bleu Hérault, from 6:30 p.m. for the pre-match and in full from the kick-off at 7 p.m.with comments from Thomas Vichard from the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.
