Ligue 1 Uber Eats 21 April 2023, 02:18

Kevin Volland: "A big battle awaits us in Lens"

After scoring a goal last weekend with a shot into the top corner, the Monegasque striker spoke at a press conference two days before the team's big match against Lens (Saturday, 9 p.m.).

he is back in form as we start the run-in. A starter against Lorient (3-1) for the first time since early March, Kevin Volland delivered a match full of self-sacrifice punctuated by a sublime goal into the top corner. Two days away from a big match against Lens (Saturday, 9 p.m.), one that promises to be decisive in the race for the podium, the Rouge et Blanc striker spoke before the media at a press conference, well aware of the stakes of this match.

This goal and this victory helped me gain confidence. I knew I could help the team and scoring last weekend confirmed that. All my teammates were happy to see me score but it's also repaid when one performs well. The whole team had a very good match against Lorient and we will have to repeat this same sort of performance in Lens

Kevin VollandAS Monaco forward

His feelings after the goal against Lorient

This goal and this victory helped me gain confidence. I knew I could help the team and scoring last weekend confirmed that. All my teammates were happy to see me score but it’s also repaid when one performs well. The whole team had a very good match against Lorient and we will have to repeat this same sort of performance in Lens in a match that will be even more important.

Golo 👉 @WissBenYedder 👉 @KeVolland 😮‍💨#ASMFCL | @Ligue1_ENG pic.twitter.com/PPHpttDJM5

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 17, 2023

A season interrupted by injury

I see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. This season I have been unlucky because I didn’t have any muscle injuries but an issue with my ankle against Paris and then injuries to my ribs twice. Each time, I pushed to come back and recover but I got injured when I returned to the team.

It was therefore difficult to reach my peak form. But today I am feeling good and it feels very good to help the team again. It has been a difficult season and I hope to be fully recovered so that I am not injured again.

Lessons to take away from this season

I have always been used to playing 90% of the games in each season, since the start of my career. What has been most difficult to accept is the fact that it was not muscle injuries. In this case, you tell yourself that something needs to be changed, especially in terms of workload or recovery time. It has not always been easy since it was a new situation for me. But I knew how to be mentally strong and you can learn from this while also advancing yourself mentally.

The connection between Kevin and Wissam has been present and strong for a long time now. This is true because Kevin is very intelligent on the pitch, he knows how to make the right choices at the right time. It is also a story of experience, because he is one of the most veteran players in our squad. We have been unlucky that he has often been injured this season due to knocks.

Philippe Clement, on Kevin VollandAS Monaco manager

His connection with Wissam Ben Yedder on the pitch

I have played lots of matches in the past with Wissam. We can find each other with our eyes closed and we know the movement of each other. I know where he wants the ball and how he wants it in order to be in a good position to score. But I also have a good technical relationship with Breel, Eliesse, Myron and Taki, not only with Wissam. We all give our best every match.

A driving force in the run-in…

I think I can help the team with my experience from last season and the nine wins in a row. However, I will not be the only driving force in the run-in since the team has a lot of quality. We also have the strength to score at all times, we will have to show it in Lens since a big battle awaits us.

I'm not surprised at his level. He is a very good player, and very solid mentally. He is calm and balanced as a person. He has very good technique and a good quality in his passing and shooting. Eliesse is only 18, so he has plenty of room for improvement.

Kevin VollandOn Eliesse Ben Seghir

What Eliesse Ben Seghir brings to the team

I’m not surprised at his level. He is a very good player, and very solid mentally. He is calm and balanced as a person. He has very good technique and a good quality in his passing and shooting. Eliesse is only 18, so he has plenty of room for improvement. He can still learn a lot in training and in matches. It’s a pleasure to see him develop.

🔝 Buteur face au @RCSA, 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗿 est le seul joueur né en 2005 ou après à être impliqué dans au moins 5 buts (4 buts, 1 assist) au sein des 5 grands championnats européens !#MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/1Z4e6LTzRH

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 3, 2023

The difficulty of analyzing our starting XI

It’s always hard to analyze the opponent, including for us, because it’s never easy to know how the opposing team will play. On our side, it is true that we have complementary attacking players with different qualities, allowing us to play in several styles. It is more difficult for us to be seen as predictable because we have more options at our disposal.

His memories of the draw against Lens last year

The goal we conceded was our fault, in conceding a free kick, while Lens pushed for a draw. If we had been behind, we would have done the same thing. For this upcoming match, it will be difficult and a tough battle is expected. We have to win and we know how to do it, as in the Coupe de France last year (4-2). We will have to show consistency over 90 minutes and fight. We are ready for that since we know the importance of this match in terms of reaching the Champions League.