Captain during the Montpellier victory against Brest (3-1)Jordan Ferri will return from suspension this Sunday, with Montpellier during Lille’s reception for the 13th day of Ligue 1, at the Mosson stadium (3 p.m.). This is the only reinforcement for Jean-Louis Gasset, since Birama Touré, also suspended in Saint-Etienne during the 1-0 defeat of MHSCwas injured with the reserve. As for Khalil Fayad and Othmane Maamma, they are still too physically weak to hold their place against the Northerners.
Téji Savanier, victim of numerous blows in Forez, is uncertain. “He hasn’t touched the ball all week, he took a big bump on his foot, he worked physically for three days but without contact, he has to return with us tomorrow (Saturday), we protected the area because that it was really painful“, the Montpellier coach said this Friday at a press conference. As for striker Akor Adams and defender Kiki Kouyaté, they ran away from the group this Friday morning but will not be able to hold their position this Sunday.
To hope for something against Losc, fourth in Ligue 1, one of the French sensations in the Champions Leagueet undefeated for 12 matches in all competitionsthe Héraultais know that it will be necessary to put out a very big performance, and will have to respond in particular with desire and determination. “It’s up to us to give that little extra in the state of mind, being 100% won’t be enough, we’ll have to do even more to upset this team“, estimates midfielder Joris Chotard, returning from injury at Saint-Etienne.
“I don’t have the impression that we are in the three worst teams in Ligue 1” – Jean-Louis Gasset
In idea, we must therefore use the same ingredients as those used against Brest, taken by the throat at the start of the match and persevere if it does not work from the start. “We have to tell ourselves that even if we don’t have the same start, we still have to win the match, even if the opponent is very good.“, continues Jean-Louis Gasset, who also aspires to more offensive success than in the Loire : “The players had the impression of having done the right thing, after the last gesture it is the most difficult in football. Mentally you have to be very strong to turn things around, and it is perhaps by playing against teams more upscale than us that we will be happy.”
Especially since, according to the pailladin technician, the efforts of his group since taking over command of the MHSC will end up paying. “We must find the resources and the ingredients to show that we are last but that we do not have the attitude of being last. I tell the players that I know a little about football and that I don’t have the impression that we are among the three worst teams in Ligue 1. The day when we are going to find our level again and when the tide is going to turn a bit little by little, we will notice points and regain hope. But above all we must not give up“, says Jean-Louis Gasset.
The coach also made a point of recalling at the end of the press conference the identity of the bottom club in the championship at the same time in 2023: Lyon, with seven points, like MHSC currently. The Rhone residents finished in sixth place, thanks to an impressive rise in the standings during the second part of the season. Also helped by the investment of more than 50 million euros in the winter transfer window with the arrivals of Malick Fofana, Saïd Benrahma and Nemanja Matic.
