Press conference with Sébastien Pocognoli and Philipp Köhn before facing Juventus
Secure their place in the competition’s playoffs. As they conclude the Champions League league phase with the home game against Juventus on Wednesday at the Stade Louis-II (kick-off 21:00), the AS Monaco players are determined to secure the point(s) that will book their spot in the next round. It was with this objective in mind that Sébastien Pocognoli and Philipp Köhn spoke to the media. Excerpts🎙️
On the stakes of the meeting
I see it as a very important match that can fulfil one of our season’s objectives, namely qualifying for the Champions League playoffs. I’m not thinking about the potential downsides, but rather the positive outcomes that can follow this match, and I hope we achieve our goal.
The draw again Le Havre
It’s been a pretty hectic week considering the off-field situation. In any case, the team, from a collective standpoint and in terms of working together, delivered a performance that met expectations. The lads fought hard, and I think that’s the foundation we needed for tomorrow’s match. Obviously, we’ll need to combine other elements against Juve, but in terms of team spirit, we need to be present in every game, regardless of the circumstances. We could have expected a much better result, but for now, the most important thing is to stick together!
The result needed to qualify
We know the standings and what we need to do. If we overthink things, we could be caught off guard, so I think we’ll play to our strengths, managing the game intelligently based on the results of the other matches. Nevertheless, the team is quite aware of the competition, and we’ll need to find the best way to manage the game effectively. Again, we need to focus on our game plan and what we want to implement, but we also need to be aware of what’s happening in the other matches. We know that a point would practically guarantee us qualification, so we have to play for it, boldly but thoughtfully.
On the form of the two teams
Throughout the season, aside from the championship-winning teams, each team has its own unique dynamics. For the past few weeks, even months, ours hasn’t been at its best, while Juventus’ has been much stronger. We know we’re facing a confident team, and we need to stick together during this difficult period. But tomorrow’s match could be the wake-up call and a turning point in the season, allowing us to get back on track. Honestly, there’s no better motivation than this kind of match, and it’s in our hands, so we have to do everything we can to make it happen.
Paul Pogba’s journey at Juventus
Paul has a great history at Juventus and gave the fans there some wonderful moments and memories. He won’t be in the squad tomorrow, that’s for sure. All I can say is that he’s working hard to try and get back into training with the group.
Regarding the tactical approach
We’ll assess our strengths within the group, the qualities of Juventus, and also evaluate our current position in terms of points and develop the best possible game plan. We’ve already had to adapt a lot due to absences, as we did again against Le Havre, and this is a recurring issue due to the lack of stability in the squad and the different player profiles we have. But we’re always trying to find the best solution. The sooner we achieve consistency, the sooner we’ll regain mental stability and confidence among the players, allowing us to start matches with the connection we’ve built up over the weeks. Tomorrow, in any case, we’ll do what’s best to achieve our objective.
On Maghnes Akliouche
Much is expected of him, as with all players: a fighting spirit and discipline in both attack and defence. Like the team, he has good spells and others where he could do better, so he’s looking for consistency. In every match, there are moments that suit his strengths, and others where it’s more difficult. I think the next step for him is to find a balance, regardless of how the match unfolds, but above all, to always stand out, because he’s a quality player, and we have the right to expect that.
Furthermore, it’s a difficult period from a collective point of view, perhaps the first for him, so there are players who learn from these cycles and come out stronger! I’m also thinking of Denis (Zakaria) din his role as captain, Golo (Aleksandr Golovin) and Thilo (Kehrer). These are elements that we should be able to rely on in relation to their role in the locker room and their qualities.
The meeting with Luciano Spalletti
Playing against an Italian team is something special for me (the coach is of Italian origin). I remember last season we played against AS Roma in the Europa League with Union Saint-Gilloise. Tomorrow will also be special for me, especially since I’ll be facing a top European coach with a wealth of experience on the neighbouring side, compared to my status as a young coach.
But I think everyone starts somewhere, and Luciano Spalletti is an inspiration, just like other coaches. I met many of them last year in Europe. So, it’s an additional asset for me and a great motivator, in addition to the satisfaction of being at this level and in this context. Therefore, we will approach the match with a lot of ambition but also with respect for the opposing coach, and I hope we will put on a good show for the fans.
Juventus’ victory against Napoli
We all watched the match against Napoli, and what stood out was their excellent tactical mastery combined with a lot of individual talent, but above all, an intelligent and experienced team on the pitch. I don’t think we should draw parallels with our situation, because it’s up to us to control their strengths collectively and believe in our own and our chances, because we have plenty and Juve will have to adapt to our system.
On the areas of progress
Two things stand out for me: we create a lot of chances even if we don’t score enough. Conversely, we concede a lot of goals, even though, paradoxically, we’ve kept quite a few clean sheets since I arrived. So that means we know how to avoid conceding. We need to work on our efficiency in both penalty areas, from a collective point of view, something that can be improved in terms of our tactical setup. I hope we’ll be clinical tomorrow, in both our highs and lows, and that we’ll get the result we want in the end to achieve our objective.
On central defence
What’s certain is that we have fewer and fewer natural defenders available. I think Jordan (Teze) can perform well in that position, in which he was partially trained in the Netherlands, because he can play in different positions. We’re waiting on Chris Mawissa to return, and Wout (Faes) too, even if it will be a longer wait, and then Eric (Dier). In the meantime, we’re trying to prepare our youngsters, with Samuel (Nibombé) and Aladji (Bamba) in case Jordan has to drop back. We still have options, and in any case, it’s an investment for the future, and I hope we’ll reap the rewards, because we can save time by preparing for the future. We have a lot of quality in midfield when we have our key players, so we’re going to try to strengthen the central area.
