The irregularity in the results: “We can see it with the results, moreover not necessarily the results that we deserved in my opinion… We always have to improve everything, always work on everything, but I am very satisfied in terms of merit , of what the team is doing. Even the Newcastle match, we lost it but I’m happy with what we did. The team is moving forward. We are progressing, I am very optimistic and very satisfied with what I see. That’s my perception.”
Press conferences: “An exercise that I enjoy? Yes. I adore. But there are fewer and fewer of you, I’m going to end up alone in the press room… I’m doing my job. I enjoy doing the interviews, the press conferences, the field… Especially when we win. It’s harder when it’s not, but I feel great and try to return the affection I receive. If you ask me a question in a nice way I will answer the same way.”
Kylian Mbappé: “All he lacked in the last matches with us were the goals, but he had very good matches, he had chances, he could have scored two or three… With a player who has such statistics, we cannot think that he is not playing well just because he does not score in one or two matches (four in this case, Editor’s note). He plays very well with PSG and he plays very well with the France team. It’s a constant in his career, he’s always good.”
The return of internationals: “The luck we have when we coach a team like PSG is that there are a lot of international and quality players. This may be a problem after international windows. But I’m not complaining. I have a very good squad. Just after the last break, there was this defeat against Nice (2-3). We will try to reverse this trend. (…) As a player, I experienced it, having had the chance to be international. The players always have a very strong, very powerful stimulation when they play for the selection. The first match afterwards, it can motivate you more or less… But in a big team, you have to be able to play even when you’re not motivated. This is a difficult trait to have. In addition, like last time, he has the break, an L1 match and a Champions League match (next Wednesday against Milan, Editor’s note). You are very motivated by the selection and the C1, obviously less by the other match. That’s the coach’s job. I didn’t manage to do it against Nice, even though the attitude of the players was good. My work must help prepare the team so that this does not happen again. But the risk will still be there tomorrow (Saturday) because there will be more desire against Milan. But to think that the match against Strasbourg will be easy would be a mistake. On the contrary, it will be much more difficult than against Milan, when I would have to calm the players down. There, I have to activate them, motivate them, without exaggerating either. In short, it represents a lot more problems for me to prepare Strasbourg, a very young team with a very good coach, a hypermotivated opponent, with many quality players who want to prove things. That’s the problem with tomorrow’s match.”
Warren Zaire-Emery forfeits: “He’s a different player because of his age, what he brings. But I have a fantastic squad. There are even players who haven’t played yet, and they are top footballers. As a coach, I always have to question the potential of the players, who can play, have a lot of solutions. Behind, it doesn’t matter who is in the starting 11.”
Kang-in Lee: “Since he has been with us, he has already demonstrated his level, and this is also true in the selection. In our system, he would rather be an interior player, a central midfielder. He could also play up front or on one side, he can score and has a good shot, he can pass… He is an interesting player and we are very happy to have him with us.
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Players and social networks: “It’s important, we know it. Most players have people to help them with this. I’m not their father, I’m their coach, I don’t talk to them about the type of communication they need to have. They have to be careful but they are intelligent, they know that social networks can provide useful information for supporters but also represent a risk. It is especially important not to waste too much time…”
Comments collected at a press conference
