A first goal for his first match with Paris FC. And what’s more, a superb gesture with a double feint on a defender, then the QRM goalkeeper, before slipping the ball into the net… However, Mehdi Chahiri did not celebrate this goal in the 32nd minute on Saturday August 6th. It was with a very closed face that he was congratulated by his teammates. From the stands and on television, the attitude of the attacking midfielder, on loan from Strasbourg (L1), surprised.
At the end of the match, Chahiri had found the smile. “No actually, I’m very happy, it’s nice,” he says. In addition, it is true that the goal, it is not bad. But, it’s just that before there was a little remark from the coach… ”
However, the 26-year-old Northerner revealed to Red Star during the 2019-2020 season (11 goals), which allowed him to sign in L1 in Strasbourg, knows the boiling Thierry Laurey well. He had trained him in Alsace (23 games, 2 goals in L1 in 2020-2021. “Yes, I know him well, he continues. These are things that happen. It’s like that … But it’s already forgotten. The important thing is to have won this first game at home.”
“We are still in the connection phase”
As Laurey pointed out despite the victory (2-1): “there are things to refine offensively. » . In this sector, the former striker of Lorient (L1) Pierre-Yves Hamel who missed a penalty this Saturday and has not scored since December 2020, must make his mark in his new team. Morgan Guilavogui is in recovery after his operation (adductors) in June.
As for Chahiri, like Alimami Gory, he is still far from being 100% physically. “We are still in the connection phase with everyone, recognizes Chahiri. We work for that in training. There is already better. It will come. We will be good in 2-3 games. Personally, it’s slowly coming back. I feel better and better. »
“Accessing the L1 at the end of the season”
After a good start to the season with Caen and noticed with one of the goals of the year in L2 (a festival in defense with three defenders eliminated), Chahiri had been seriously injured in early December 2021 against Auxerre. Victim of a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, he was only able to return in May during the 37th day of L2.
“It was a big setback, recognizes. But that’s in the past. I forgot and I’m trying to move on now. I had started well with Caen and I hope to do even better with Paris FC. I’m really glad I came here. It’s a nice project. I hope to play for the first places and reach the L1 at the end of the season. »