Reactions from Jorge Sampaoli and Arnaud Kalimuendo after SRFC v ASSE

Jorge Sampaoli 

« When a team is in a tricky situation, you have to set the framework straight away. This team played a very good match. We're trying to make a lot of passes to free up the flanks. We need to continue to insist on controlling our opponents. We made progress in attack today. I hope we can carry on like this.

We want to develop the team collectively and get the players to improve their individual performances, because a lot of them were below their best before. Ludovic Blas had a very good game and was involved in all the goals. Just like the Ludovic Blas I knew when I was at Marseille. If he continues like this, he'll make a huge contribution to the team. I'm particularly impressed by the team's enjoyment and style today. It's thanks to that enjoyment that we're going to improve. It's very good for our confidence. I liked the fact that we made more passes into the opposition half than into our own half. We're going to have to get even better at avoiding the kind of transitions that are dangerous in Ligue 1.

Winning allows us to work calmly but we have to be realistic, we have to improve. This match can be seen as a starting point. James? A great game, one of the best tonight. I think he's still adjusting. Next week, we've got another match that's eagerly awaited by the fans. We'll have to be just as committed. »

 

Arnaud Kalimuendo

« When you go weeks without a win, it's not easy. We had to bounce back and we did everything we could to get the three points. We need to keep going like this to get back to where we need to be. Saint-Étienne started well and then we made it easy for ourselves. We managed to turn things in our favour. We're going to have to keep working on our connections.»