A perfect start in the Conference League! Having already defeated CSKA Sofia last week in Bulgaria (1-2), the Monegasques secured a comprehensive win against SC Freiburg this Thursday evening at Fontvieille, making it two wins out of two in the C4 regular season (3-0). A few minutes after the final whistle, Jordan Teze and then Edan Diop - who provided the assist for Paris Brunner on the opening goal - stopped in the mixed zone to reflect on how the match unfolded. Excerpts 🎙️
Good evening Jordan. We imagine you must be satisfied, was this a perfect night for AS Monaco?
Honestly, yes!Especially against Freiburg, knowing they reached the Europa League final last season. We played really well, particularly in the first half, and I think tonight's win is well-deserved. Was it a clash between two favorites for the title? I don't know,I hope so (smiles). But in any case, we sent a strong message.
The start of the second half was a bit complicated, how did you experience it?
Yes, it's true. I think they came back well and got a lot of corners, but we felt good and didn't panic. How did I feel playing at centre-back? I felt good and was comfortable on the ball, so it's not a problem for me!
Paris Brunner scored another great goal, does he still surprise you?
Of course. His goal is exceptional, and as they say, he is on fire! In any case, he helps us a lot. Is it difficult to defend against the forwards in training? Yes, it's not easy because they all train well, but that also helps us improve.
How do you explain the different face AS Monaco showed between the match in Lorient and tonight?
They are two different matches, but in Lorient, it was really tough. Tonight we were ready and wanted to bounce back because we are AS Monaco and we are capable of winning these games. Either way, we work every day to be more consistent than last season and I think we can achieve great things this year!
Edan Diop's reaction 🇫🇷
Good evening Edan, you had a great game tonight...
Yes, it was important to bounce back after Lorient and this win feels good. We want to keep this momentum going this weekend against Lille. Did we win in style? I don't know, but in any case, we did well. Winning 3-0 at home is a great feeling, especially with a clean sheet, so I'm very happy for the team!
On a personal level, how are you experiencing the start of this season?
Honestly, I'm just trying to train well to show the coach what I can do, but I'm taking it game by game. Is it easy playing alongside Lamine Camara? It's true that he makes things easier for me, he's a great player and frankly, I'm very happy to play next to him!
What does this match say about the group's character?
I'll say it again, but we take it one game at a time! We have a lot of goals this season, so we need to keep going like this. The most important thing was not to concede a goal and we managed that well, plus we scored afterwards, so it's great for the team. Does Strasbourg's run in the C4 last year give us ideas? Yes, of course, it's a goal and we have to be ambitious.
What difference does it make having a player like Paris Brunner leading the attack?
Honestly, I get along well with him in the dressing room and what's more, he scored from one of my passes (smiles)! It's a real pleasure to have him in the team and he's also decisive, so it's fantastic for the whole squad.
