Julien Stéphan : « what we need above all is calm and stability »

Elimination to digest : 
« We analysed things with the players and quickly switched to Monaco's preparations. We may not all have the same feelings, but we played a PSG in Champions League mode. My players were very committed, the idea at first was to keep things tight and in the second half we thought things might open up. That's what happened, simply because this is the strongest Paris we've faced in the last five years, and they leave very little to their opponents. In previous years, there were always major openings. This time there were a few, but they weren't huge. We lost 1-0 to the European top 3 or top 4. »


Team morale : 
« They're disappointed but ready to go again. They know we have a big game ahead of us. »


The end of the season : 
« We talk a lot about the final destination, but in this case I'm talking about the journey. How do you get there in the end? After every international break, there's something at stake, because inevitably when the group breaks up for 12 days, when some people experience very strong emotions, there can be some consequences. In a very short space of time, we play three away games. I don't think we need a second wind; what we need above all is calm and stability in our analyses and in what we say. In my opinion, things are going too far in one direction or another. »


Monaco : 
« We've got a big opponent coming up, the 2nd or 3rd best team in France. They've had a week to prepare for the match and it's going to be a big challenge. They're less effective at home but they create the chances. They have opportunities to score in every game because they have depth profiles that hurt up front and down the flanks. »


The development of Désiré Doué :
« When I arrived, he didn't play much for the first month. It was a crucial period for observing his behaviour. I learned a lot at that time. I didn't know Désiré very well because when I first arrived he was with the pre-training team. I had the opportunity to see him in a few matches but I didn't really know him. During that period, I saw someone who was disappointed and frustrated, of course, but I also saw someone who was completely committed to his job and his life as a professional player. That was a very powerful observation for me about the kind of player he is. He has managed to show his qualities through his versatility, by being more focused, and with his personality in high-stakes matches. He's played in different positions in different systems, and that's a strength. His development has been very positive. Sometimes he relapses and bounces back, but I'd say that's inevitable at this age. Overall, his progression curve is constant and positive. He knows where he wants to go and he's giving himself the means to get there. »