“I expect an intense PSV game”
On the eve of the reception of PSV Eindhoven for the 4th day of the Europa League, crucial for the European future of AS Monaco, the coach of the Red and White spoke to the media.
Take an option on the qualification. Still undefeated after three group matches in the Europa League, Niko Kovac’s men have the opportunity to get closer to a place for the round of 16 of the competition this Thursday evening against PSV Eindhoven (kick-off 6:45 pm). Leaders of Group B with 7 points, Myron Boadu’s teammates are nevertheless wary of the Dutch spirit of revenge, following the victory of the Red and White in the first leg for the 200th European match in the history of the Club. This is what the coach wanted to underline at the pre-match press conference. Extracts.
At the start of the season, I said that it was something new to play in Europe for a lot of our young players. Now we play two competitions every three days. (…) The truth is that we must maintain this level in both competitions. We continue to work to work on this. Our results require greater consistency.
AS Monaco coach
On the lessons of the Brest match
I said after the match that we lost the game because we had not put the right ingredients, not enough aggressiveness. We created a few situations, but it was not enough. Brest wanted more. Maybe we thought it was enough to get back on the pitch to win the game, but it wasn’t. It’s up to us to bounce back this Thursday against PSV.
On the ability to string together good performances
At the start of the season, I said that it was something new to play in Europe for a lot of our young players. Now we play two competitions every three days. Today there are two faces of AS Monaco. In the Europa League we play very aggressively, because the motivation is maybe more important. And in Ligue 1, we sometimes play a tone below. But the truth is that we have to maintain this level in both competitions. We continue to work to work on this. Our results require greater consistency.
📼 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 ‣ #UEL
.@SofianeDiop a saving goal gave victory to our Red and Whites for our 200th European match. pic.twitter.com/HaP1hwKdGV
– AS Monaco (@AS_Monaco) November 3, 2021
PSV Eindhoven are a very good team and are currently just behind Ajax Amsterdam in the league. So far we have seven points in this Europa League, but there are still nine in play so it’s not all over. Tomorrow we expect a very tough battle.
AS Monaco coach
On tactical adaptation to adversaries
You must always adapt to your opponent, even if we don’t lose sight of our playing philosophy. It is important to respect your opponent even more in Europe, and to adapt to his way of playing. We have shown it in particular against Real Sociedad, that we are capable of doing it. PSV Eindhoven are a very good team and are currently just behind Ajax Amsterdam in the league. So far we have seven points in this Europa League, but there are still nine in play so it’s not all over. Tomorrow we expect a very tough battle.
On the integration of recruits
It is normal when you welcome new players, that there is a time to adapt. Last season’s team had a great time at a very good level. This is why we must give Myron time, for example, to adapt to a new context, especially since he is fighting with great players to have his place. It is the same situation for Jean Lucas and Ismail Jakobs, who face very strong competition. It’s not easy for them at the moment, but I’m happy with this situation with competing players, who are fighting for their place.
The type of match against PSV
I think we will see the same type of match as the first leg. A very aggressive team, which brings a lot of speed, speed in the transitions. She also has very good wingers who like to get into the center. In any case, the coach, Roger Schmidt, likes to play very offensively, so I expect a lot of opposition, an intense game against Eindhoven. We will have to be very solid defensively. They need to win, so I expect a very open game, and I want us to be effective offensively, because above all, I repeat, we have to be very vigilant behind.
He needed it, we needed it. ??#PSVTWE pic.twitter.com/exqvP4G4jY
– PSV (@PSV) November 1, 2021