Niko Kovac, Monaco coach, before the Europa League match against Sturm Graz: “We’re not here for sightseeing”
“How do you see this last Europa League group match, when Monaco has already qualified for the knockout stages?
We will field a good team tomorrow (Thursday), I will change a few players but we will have a strong team. We will see depending on the scenario, but I have the idea of making substitutions if possible from the break, because we have an important match on Sunday (in Paris, in Ligue 1). But we are here to win, we are not here to do tourism even though it is a beautiful region. It’s a European match, in a Champions League level group. There is money at stake, prestige. This is not a friendly match, we are playing against Sturm Graz, a competitive team which is at the top of the Austrian standings. It is also an opportunity for young people to show their qualities. In the Championship, they haven’t played a lot, but there they may have minutes.
Alexander Nübel has remained in Monaco and Radek Majecki will therefore play in the goal. Does that mean he will also play in the Coupe de France?
Yes, Radek was our number 1 goalkeeper in Coupe de France games last season, and that will be the case this year too. We have already qualified for the next round of the Europa League, it was the opportunity for him to play on the stage in order to gain confidence and experience. We always try to give young people opportunities, I have 100% confidence in him.
“We have a good opportunity to play a good game, to give minutes to players who participate little, and to rest others who have a lot. The health of the players is always in mind. “
Is Sunday’s match in Paris already on your mind?
It’s difficult, because as a coach, you only think about the next game and you respect the opponent. We must already win on Thursday to develop our young people by giving them experience. We will try to change players but if we perform, that can also be very important for Sunday. It’s always a balance to be found. A good opportunity to play a good game, to give minutes to players who participate little, and to rest others who have a lot. The health of the players is always in mind. It’s cold, we have to be careful, but I have no fear about those who will start. Over twenty-five players and everyone is important.
How are you going to deal with Wissam Ben Yedder, who started on the bench in the last two Ligue 1 games?
We spent two weeks without international players, during the break. Myron (Boadu) was not in the selection and performed well while Wissam was in the France team, and he had the opportunity to show his qualities. Wissam is of course number 1, but we all work together. It’s not a question of status, you have to perform and Wissam performs well, whether he starts or enters during a match. “