Philippe Clément, before PSV-Monaco: “Mentally, we are the favorites”
“Does your dominance in the first leg (1-1) give you extra confidence?
I don’t need more confidence. We don’t need it. The trust is there. PSV are a good team, they showed it during the Dutch Supercup by scoring 5 goals at Ajax. He still put 4 this weekend. He has a very strong offensive force. But we are also aware of our qualities. The players have worked really hard over the past few weeks to be ready. Not everyone is yet, but more and more players are.
“I am sure that physically we are better. But we have to prove on the field”
PSV Eindhoven will have the advantage of receiving. Do you think he will be the favourite?
Favorite? That’s an interesting word for newspapers… (He smiles) For me, mentally, we are the favourites. Because I am sure that physically we are better. But we have to prove on the field. And they have the advantage of playing at home, in front of their supporters. But it’s not that important. The two teams are very close, each with their own qualities. We want to show that we were the better team in both games. We were on the first as shown by all our opportunities. We will try to be again.
Do you consider this match as crucial for the rest of your season?
No, and I always think of the positive scenario. But if not (and that Monaco gets eliminated), it does not change anything. Because there will still be a lot of matches in the championship and there will still be a European Cup which is also very interesting. But naturally, we are very, very, very – and you can add a lot of “very” – determined to qualify. Afterwards, it’s football, a match, a final, you can be better than the other, have bad luck and not qualify. What is important for us is that the players think we will qualify. On the qualities, the determination, the physical state, of the players who all want to play. I saw some very good attitudes during today’s session (Monday)even from players who don’t think they’ll start tomorrow (tuesday). Which is crucial for a good season. It’s very difficult to choose the eleven players for tomorrow.
Will the group see the return of players who were absent last weekend?
Caio (Henrique) is in the group (he was positive for Covid last week). Benoit (Badiashile) and Myron (Boadu) are not there. It was borderline, but it wasn’t enough to be in the group. However, they trained: Benoît did all of today’s sessions (Monday) with the band and Myron a party. But we need 100% players, not 98% or something like that. »