Squad management:
"I have a very strong squad, of quality, with a lot of players who can play in different positions, which leaves me plenty of options. The most important thing is what we want to do on the pitch, whatever team we start with. That's what we showed on Thursday night, for example. The players need to be in the right frame of mind, because sometimes there are disappointments and moods, but that's not what I see. As long as it stays that way, it's a good sign.
We've had some very good squads in previous seasons, but I think the group is even more homogeneous this season. The choices are difficult, but that's part of my job. The important thing is to be as fair as possible and above all to put together the best possible team at the time, for a specific match."
The sequence of matches:
"To be able to follow on from Europe, you need a strong squad, both in terms of quantity and quality, because you leave some strength behind after European Cup matches. What we love is the competition, the matches. We never feel as good as when we're playing every three days."
A more relaxed team?
"Last season, we lost twelve games, which is too many to be in the top three. That's where we need to improve. We often say that when you can't win, you shouldn't lose. It's a bit of a cliché, but at the time, when you draw away against a supposedly inferior team, you're disappointed, but at the end of the season it counts. There are too many away games that we shouldn't have won but shouldn't have lost either. With five or six more points, we would have been ahead of Marseille. That's why I put a lot of emphasis on that at the start of the season, perhaps by neglecting a little too much the other aspect of the game, the pressing we have to do, taking risks and letting go. That didn't allow the players to free themselves completely. They remained focused solely on solidity."
MHSC:
They're a team that's very comfortable away from home, but less so at home. We know what it's like over there, it's always difficult. We often talk about their spirit and their aggression, but there are also some very good players in this team. Their coach is experienced and has always known how to get the best out of the squad he's had."
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Ligue 1 Uber Eats – Matchday 6
Montpellier HSC / Stade Rennais F.C.
Sunday 24 September 2023 - 17:05
Stade de la Mosson
