Sébastien Pocognoli: "Very proud of my players—united and inspiring!"

They’ve done it again! Just as they had a month ago against Lens (2-3), the players of AS Monaco did well to overcome Olympique Lyonnais in the second half, thanks to goals from Maghnes Akliouche and Folarin Balogun (1-2), he was understandably satisfied and very proud of his team. Sébastien Pocognoli appeared at a press conference following this latest victory, which brings them back to within just one point of the Rhone-based side.🎙️

Good evening, Coach. What are your main takeaways following this fine victory?

The three points, our excellent run of form, the fact that we continue to apply pressure in the standings, and—above all—having witnessed a team that remained united throughout the entire 98 minutes of the match and played with tactical intelligence! If I look at that final sequence—where we had four players blocking shots inside the box—it perfectly encapsulates what we’ve been doing over these past few weeks. It makes me extremely proud; coming to Lyon with the intent to press high, and then managing that second half as effectively as we did—that is truly remarkable on the part of the players! So, I am very proud of them today—especially since I watched the end of the match on TV, and I found them to be incredibly united and truly inspiring. It was a beautiful thing to watch.

𝐀𝐮𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐝’𝐡𝐮𝐢, on a joué 🧨

1️⃣-2️⃣ | #OLASM pic.twitter.com/f35B1C3Zm3

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) March 22, 2026

Did you feel that Lyon were gaining the upper hand in the first half?

Not without the ball, as I felt we won possession back frequently by applying pressure—just as we do in every match—typified by their goalkeeper, who was sometimes forced to play the ball long, which often signals a lack of options. At times, however, they still managed to establish a numerical advantage because our two midfielders weren’t shifting across quickly enough. But it was primarily *with* the ball that we lacked discipline regarding our tactical structure; we didn’t sufficiently exploit the strategies we had put in place—particularly attacking the space in behind the defense—as we did for the first goal.

We talked about it at halftime, and I think the introduction of Mamad’ (Coulibaly) brought many benefits to reaching into the back or creating depth for Maghnes (Akliouche). So, from a tactical standpoint, I think we played a good match—particularly in how we managed the second half.

Any updates on Aladji Bamba ?

It was indeed a twisted ankle. At halftime, he wanted to keep going because he’s a warrior—so I don’t think it’s too serious—but I’m trying to protect him, especially since there are a lot of things that are new to him. Things like having to play with a yellow card, or having to continue without being at 100%. So, I wanted to avoid those “10 minutes too many,” and I think that was the logical choice to make.

How do you see the table?

There are several teams ahead of us, so we are on the chase—applying pressure from the position of underdogs, a consequence of the difficult spell we endured from November through January. We are therefore striving to redouble our efforts to make up for lost ground and maintain that pressure as much as possible. We must seize the moment, continue to learn from the complicated period we have navigated, and use that experience to keep our feet firmly on the ground—moving forward with rigorous discipline and great humility as we aim to claw our way up a few more spots in the standings before the season concludes.

Is there any regret about not scoring the third goal?

We had opportunities in the second half during transitions to extend our lead, and that’s often how it is these days, through Ansu (Fati), Mika (Biereth) or Mamdou (Coulibaly). We should definitely have added a third one, but I think that Christian (Mawissa) He also brought a great deal of power down the flank. In the end, we had that triple block—which, fortunately, meant we didn’t live to regret those chances—but ultimately, Lyon did create chances of their own, notably by hitting the post and having a few other interesting opportunities. If we want to navigate the closing stages of matches with peace of mind, we will certainly need to be more clinical.

What is your take on Maghnes Akliouche’s performance?

Creative players are often pigeonholed, and I try to protect them. But when you have a player like this who puts in so much defensive effort—not just tracking back, but also pressing forward—since he is the one winning the most high turnovers in Ligue 1, it tells you he is a unique, modern type of player. That is becoming increasingly rare; if he wants to maintain this profile—one defined by both creativity and hard work—all that remains is for him to build a solid physical and muscular foundation that will allow him to take his game to the next level. It is my job to push him in that regard, and I believe he is starting to grasp that this will be the key; in fact, I sense he is already in the process of unlocking that door—and that is incredibly satisfying! As for his defensive work against Moreira? Personally, I would have gone in with a tackle! (Smiles.) But on a more serious note, creative players often anticipate what their counterparts are likely to do; consequently, they defend while staying on their feet—and that is a distinct advantage.

⚽️ #Ligue1McDonalds
🗨️ Maghnes Akliouche : "Ce match c'était comme une finale, on était déterminé à gagner jusqu'à la dernière minute !"#OLASM pic.twitter.com/eNzTdv17Ti

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) March 22, 2026