After starting the season as a regular, Issiaga Sylla was sidelined by injury. Even without the injury, the returning Guinean has not enjoyed his start to the season.
September 24, 2023. This was the last time Issiaga Sylla played a match for Montpellier. It was a 0-0 draw at Rennes. Four days later, the Guinean defender injured his calf. As a result, he was unable to compete. However, the wait is now over, as the 29-year-old is fit to play again. He will be available for the trip to Nantes this Sunday, October 22, for Matchday 9 of Ligue 1. An opportunity for the Guinean international (74 caps, 3 goals) to rediscover his consistency. After all, he himself admits to being dissatisfied with his start to the season (6 starts in 6 games played).
"I'm not too happy with my start to the season. Frankly, I'm not at the same level as last season. I need to work even harder to get back to where I was. It's primarily a physical problem," Issiaga Sylla told Midi Libre. "We were on the national team, so we resumed a little later. I missed part of the preparation and that penalized me a bit. I don't like missing pre-season preparation."
A symbolic return
During his convalescence, Issiaga Sylla tried to compensate with extra training sessions."I lost my physical volume. Everyone appreciates my ability to redouble my efforts, to help the team defensively and offensively. The coach and the fitness trainer have put in place a programme to regain this dynamic. After every training session, I do extra work".
The match in Nantes is also a special one for Issiaga Sylla.Montpellier's last trip to the Canaries was on May 20, 2023 and on that day, at the final whistle, the former Toulouse man broke down in tears. The morning of the match, he had learned of the death of his mother."The coach, who came to see me in my room, gave me the choice.I didn't want to penalize the team.I wanted to play the match for my mother, who is the pillar of my family. I had a lot of energy and strength not to think about it during the match, but in the end I broke down". An opportunity to pay tribute to her...
