“He's the player we needed”: Nikola Maksimovic did his best for his debut with MHSC

Le défenseur serbe a beaucoup communiqué. MAXPPP – damien deslandes

Arrivé jeudi, le défenseur central serbe de 32 ans a apporté un peu de sérénité à l'arrière garde pailladine.

The memory of his last match is swallowed up in his mind. Nikola Maksimovic had not played since April in Turkey. And since Thursday, and his signing at the last minute in Montpellier, he had only had two training sessions as his only reference points with his new life and playing partners.

Read also: “When you are in a period like this, nothing is going well”, “I saw a serene team”: Jean-Louis Gasset reacts to MHSC's defeat in Le Havre

The Serbian defender did the job. He showed the experience of a 32-year-old player, seasoned in the four corners of Europe and especially Calcio. Installed at the heart of a revamped defense, with Modibo Sagnan and Falaye Sacko at his sides, the Serbian giant (1.91 m) behaved like a boss. He led his teammates as if he had been there forever. With obvious authority, with a perfectible but surprising physique.

“He held up physically”

“He had the courage to tell me that he felt like playing even though he only arrived on Thursday. To protect him, I made a five-man system. This stopped him from moving to the wings. Overall, he brought serenity. He is not in top form, but he is the player we needed,” says Jean-Louis Gasset.

Always well-placed, present in the duels, the former Torino and Naples defender very quickly reassured his new team. Rather at ease in one-on-ones, with Ayew, (53rd), Ndiaye (70th) or Kechta, he even injured his nose in a clash with the young Normandy midfielder.

“He held on physically even though he wasn't sure he would go all the way in the match”, notes the Hérault coach. His first match was betrayed by a wandering hand from Falaye Sacko and a fatal penalty (72nd). Maksimovic did his best, but Montpellier didn't do the minimum against Le Havre. Not sure that in the long run, that will be enough to satisfy them.

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