Press conference – Pre-match – PSG-Monaco – Mauricio Pochettino: “It’s a challenge”
On the eve of the shock against Monaco in Ligue 1, Argentinian Paris Saint-Germain technician Mauricio Pochettino attended the traditional pre-match press conference.
What is your feeling as you approach this shock against Monaco, who you beat last season at the Parc des Princes?
“ I don’t think it’s a rematch because Monaco beat us at the Parc last season. We beat in the final of the Coupe de France. The most important thing is to win all the matches. Winning is always a challenge. It’s a challenge because Monaco is a very good team, one of the most competitive in Ligue 1, which has played in the preliminary rounds of the Champion’s League and which is currently playing very well in the Europa League. You have to be professionals and do everything to win. It will be a good game, which will be played. We expect a difficult meeting, against a great coach and great players. “
How do you judge the current form of your team?
” The team is in very good physical shape. We were able to recover well after the game against Brugge, with an emphasis on recovery. We are very happy with the physical form of the players, even if we can still improve. We still regret certain absences but our group is large. “
What is your assessment of this first half of the season?
” In terms of results, it is very positive. We are disappointed not to have finished first in our group in the Champion’s League because we only lost one match while Manchester City lost two. Afterwards, in terms of performance, we know that we can improve. We would like to be able to perform at a high level for 90 minutes, on a regular basis. It’s difficult. The level is high in Ligue 1 and in the European Cup. “
As the draw for the knockout stages of C1 approaches, how do you judge your chances of winning the competition?
“Competition demands improvement and performance in every game. Before February and the round of 16, there are other meetings. One of the club’s goals is to win the Champions League, but we also need to be focused on the next game. Monaco, then the Coupe de France, Lorient, the truce… We are only thinking of the next match to, step by step, get closer to the goal. The draw of the eighths? Honestly, all the teams in the running have strengths and are very good. Regardless of the opponent, we are Paris Saint-Germain and we have to beat all the teams. “