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WEEK 15 REACTIONS – ZLATAN: ‘WE’RE STRONGER THIS YEAR’
After the 4-0 win over Lyon, PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Edinson Cavani is the plus that the club were missing last season; Bastia boss Frédéric Hantz was full of praise for Mickaël Landreau in his 602nd Ligue 1 match.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Paris Saint-Germain 4 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais 
Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain coach): ”The large scoreline shouldn’t make you think that it was an easy match from beginning to end, because it was clear that struggled somewhat at the start. We were surprised by Lyon’s strategy but a small tactical adjustment allowed us to react well; we still could have won it had we stuck to our normal system, but there were goals and a good spectacle, so that’s great. Lille are providing some stiff competition – like us, they’re on a strong run – and that’s a great thing for the league. I’d like our unbeaten run to go as long as possible, and if we can play all our matches technically and mentally at 100 per cent, it will be very hard to beat us. So we need to prioritise these two qualities, and it’s up to the coaching staff to support the players so we can avoid the complacency that could see us lose matches.”
Rémi Garde (Lyon coach): ”It’s hard to swallow, but it’s a fair result. We were taught a lesson and it was a real kick in the head. We could have lost by even more. We started well; we were conscientious and focused, but after Aléxandre Lacazette hit the bar, we eased up a bit and Paris took advantage. We made their job easier but still, we were up against a side with a lot of quality. We couldn’t keep up the good work we had done in the first 30 minutes and we had no luck on front of goal. Here [at the Parc des Princes] a lot of other side will suffer this season. We’re not in the same class as Paris.”
Girondins de Bordeaux 4 – 0 AC Ajaccio 
Grégory Sertic (Bordeaux midfielder): ”I’m very happy. It’s great to score at home; it had been a long time. Collectively, we rediscovered our cutting edge in attack. We needed these three points to make a push and climb back up the table after two complicated matches [against Nantes in Ligue 1 and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League]. We’re happy but this win wasn’t an end in itself. We need to back it up in Guingamp this week. They have the same number of points as we do, and we need to replicate today’s performance so we don’t start slipping down the table again.”
Christian Bracconi (Ajaccio coach): ”We specifically asked our players to start the match well tonight, to be fully focused right from the first whistle – but we couldn’t manage that and we paid for it early on. After that we played a good half-hour but after the break we let it slip and got floored by two quick goals. Sadly, we’ve slipped into a losing mentality. I’d like to see my players find the capacity to react better. Tonight we showed our deficiencies clearly, which is very worrying for the season ahead. We’ll prepare well for the derby against Bastia, and we’ll give it our all, but if we keep playing the way we played today we won’t collect very many points.”
SC Bastia 2 – 0 Evian TG FC 
Frédéric Hantz (Bastia coach): ”You mustn’t ever just think about the result, even if it’s an important one. I had to reproach my players at half-time for not playing compactly enough, and then the beginning of the second term was perfect. We’re now unbeaten in three matches – two of which were wins – and that’s very important. We’ve shaken off our inconsistent start to the season. [About 'keeper Mickaël Landreau, who made his record-equalling 602nd Ligue 1 appearance] Mika has been a true professional all week and his performance tonight was excellent. He managed to control his emotions and stay focused, as he has done throughout his career.”
Pascal Dupraz (Evian coach): ”I think in the first half that we managed to stifle Bastia more than any other side this season. But in our situation, you need to convert that into goals. We conceded form another defensive error. Bastia sat back and waited for us after that and things got very complicated. But we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We did well with our possession but we just weren’t dangerous enough. We need to bounce back in the weeks to come, or things could get very tricky. Against PSG [in Week 16] we’ll do all we can to hold them off, and you can count on us to never give up.”
Saturday, November 30, 2013
AS Saint-Etienne 4 – 0 Stade de Reims 
Christophe Galtier (Saint-Etienne coach): ”It was a good afternoon and the playing conditions were fine given the recent bad weather. We have to say thanks to the LFP for bringing the kick-off forward. That allowed us to play on a good pitch for the time of year. It has been a difficult week in which we have not spoken much about football, but I dare say that tonight the image we gave ofLes Verts was a good one. It wasn’t extraordinary match against a side who are tricky opponents when they play away from home, where they have lost just once this season. The team spirit and determination, both essential values at this club, were there today. It was a hard-fought game, but fair. I am very satisfied with the spirit shown by the players. It is a good victory.”
Hubert Fournier (Reims coach): ”The scoreline is harsh. We conceded three goals from dead balls in the space of 15 minutes and then another joke of a goal at the end. We are not proud at conceding four goals. We can say that we controlled the match but when you let in four goals…You can’t hope for much when you leave Bayal unmarked six yards out. We played quite well in midfield but we didn’t create many chances. It sounds strange to say that our four defenders played quite well, but ultimately the game was decided by set-pieces. We have now let in seven goals in two matches. There is a message in there for us and we must listen to it. Maybe we forgot that we needed to show something extra to make sure we stay up, because we are not even halfway through the season. We must do better, otherwise the next few weeks will be very difficult.”
AS Monaco FC 2 – 0 Stade Rennais FC 
Claudio Ranieri (Monaco coach): ”I am very satisfied. The team was focused and always wary of Rennes on the counterattack. There was commitment. With three matches in a week, it is important to be able to keep the ball and not play too quickly when you are already 2-0 up. I was satisfied with the whole team, notably James (Rodríguez), (Jérémy) Toulalan, (Ricardo) Carvalho. Our objective is to qualify for the Champions League. But if Paris lose their rhythm, I want Monaco to be right behind. (Anthony Martial) is a good player and scorer of goals. He worked well for the team. I have the experience to know when it is a good time to give a player a debut. He is more attentive and focused at the moment. He is tough, young and has the right mentality. I’d prefer him to stay at Monaco in the January transfer window. With so many champions around him, he can learn a lot. He is the quality to become a great player, the potential to have a great player. But the most important thing is to be professional.”
Philippe Montanier (Rennes coach): ”We know that Monaco are superior to us. When we know that, we need to be at least match them in terms of commitment. We made life easier for our opponents by the way we played in the first half, in which we were insipid and inoffensive. We are disappointed and there is bitterness too because commitment is the least you have to display. If you don’t have that commitment, at the Stade Louis II against that team, you do wonder when you will get it. It is a step backwards because recently, without being flamboyant, the commitment has been there. We were a bit better in the second half, but it was still not good enough.”
EA Guingamp 1 – 0 FC Nantes 
Jocelyn Gourvennec (Guingamp coach): ”It is always good to win. It was a difficult match for both sides, very closely fought, between two closely matched teams. We wanted to win in front of our own fans but Nantes are a good side away from home. Their direct style caused us problems in the first half and we were unable to press them. But we reorganised after half an hour and were more at ease after that, with more numbers in midfield. The game was still missing a goal, and we got it. It was essential to get the first goal, but we should have killed the match after that. It was a good evening for us because the game could have gone either way. We played better in the second half and controlled the game well in the half hour after our goal.”
Michel Der Zakarian (Nantes coach): ”I thought Nantes dominated from the beginning of the match to the end. Guingamp hit us on the break and that was all. We played all the football but our finishing was not good enough in the first half, when we should have killed the match. That sums it up. Our finishing was poor, but otherwise there is no question that we were the better team. But we played some good stuff so I am very happy with my team.”
FC Lorient 3 – 0 OGC Nice 
Christian Gourcuff (Lorient coach): ”It wasn’t a brilliant performance and I don’t think it was a great match either. We started well and got the goal, but then were on the back foot for the last 20 minutes of the first half. Then, in the second half, we tried to tighten up at the back and then got the second goal, which changed things again. The important thing is that we won the game, and now we can work in peace to try to improve the quality of our football.”
Claude Puel (Nice coach): ”We played well in spells but didn’t get any reward. It is hard to take. Despite some convincing performances, things are not going for us just now. Overall, we played well in every area. The only conclusion we can draw from this match is that we must persevere with what we are doing. Things will eventually start to go right for us again. The attitude was good and we played some good football. We just need to take more of our chances. I have a lot of young players who are learning at these difficult times. We will get out of this. We have another match coming on Tuesday and that is a good thing. It is an important match (against Monaco) and we need to perform.”
Toulouse FC 5 – 1 FC Sochaux Montbéliard 
Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): ”This is a really satisfying victory, especially because we had been behind. Against a team who started with real intensity, it took us 20 minutes before we began to pose them problems. The third goal just after the break was very important. This result lifts us up the table. We were going through a difficult spell and the team reacted well. We managed to keep calm and continued to play coherently despite Sochaux getting the opening goal. I am very pleased for (Wissam) Ben Yedder. I know he will score 15 goals this season because he is an excellent player.”
Hervé Renard (Sochaux coach): ”Toulouse equalised on a counterattack when we were 1-0 up away from home. Then we committed an error in the 45th minute and another in the 47th. For 25 minutes we caused them problems, but our errors crucified us. We gave Toulouse everything they needed to get their confidence back. We need to turn the page and focus on the home game against Reims on Wednesday because that game is vital. Self-pity achieves nothing in football. The league table does not interest me just now. We will see on Wednesday if we have the mental capacity to react to this. I am not angry with my team. I just want us to get the three points against Reims.”
Valenciennes FC 0 – 1 LOSC Lille 
Ariël Jacobs (Valenciennes coach): ”We have not lost all hope of staying up. We started the match well and I was hoping that would last for longer than 20 minutes. It was us who allowed them to come into the match at that moment. We made things easier for our opponents. For a team down at the foot of the table it is not easy to score goals. We don’t get the gifts that we give the opposition. We showed more initiative after Lille were reduced to ten men (but) we created too few chances. Lille were well organised and, apart from one or two moments, like Melikson’s shot, we didn’t do enough to get a point. The players are disappointed. At half-time, we thought we could do better but we took a brick to the head right at the start of the second half. But we have the chance on Tuesday to get back on track and we will need to give everything in that game. We must never give up.”
René Girard (Lille coach): ”It wasn’t easy. We went through the full set of emotions. We controlled the game for a spell, and then we scored at a good time, at the start of the second half. Then the sending-off of Franck (Béria) penalised us a little but I think the team showed that they have real heart and that we can count on them. We fought well and I think, even when down to ten men, we caused Valenciennes problems. It would have been better had we finished the game with 11 men because we used up a lot of energy (after the red card), but it is a great win and the kind of result that brings everyone together. As long we keep the same spirit, things will go well for us. Now we need to recuperate. We have some boys who are fresh, others less so, but we just have to get on with it.”
Friday, November 29, 2013
Olympique de Marseille 2 – 0 Montpellier Hérault SC 
Elie Baup (Marseille coach): ”It’s symbolic and a big moment for Marseille to become the first club to record 1000 Ligue 1 victories. We’re very happy about that and the fact that our squad have contributed to it with this third straight win. We were a bit tired after playing in the Champions League as we didn’t get back from London until 4:30 on Wednesday morning and then had only two days to prepare for this league game. We needed to be strong and organised and the players were just that. We played with a lot of quality in the first half and had chances and went in a goal up. Montpellier played higher up the pitch after the break and had us more in trouble. The match finished well for us with Saber Khalifa’s goal at the end and I’m very happy.”
Jean Fernandez (Montpellier coach): ”I have quite a few regrets this evening because we didn’t convert the chances we created for ourselves in the second half. We lost Djamel Bakar to injury and that was a tough blow. We kept pushing until the final whistle and that left us exposed to Marseille’s counters and we conceded a second goal right at the end. I thought the OM players looked a bit tired after their European game on Tuesday. OM have a very good team with a lot of high-quality attacking players.”
WEEK 15 REACTIONS – ZLATAN: ‘WE’RE STRONGER THIS YEAR’
Paris Saint-Germain 4 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain coach): ”The large scoreline shouldn’t make you think that it was an easy match from beginning to end, because it was clear that struggled somewhat at the start. We were surprised by Lyon’s strategy but a small tactical adjustment allowed us to react well; we still could have won it had we stuck to our normal system, but there were goals and a good spectacle, so that’s great. Lille are providing some stiff competition – like us, they’re on a strong run – and that’s a great thing for the league. I’d like our unbeaten run to go as long as possible, and if we can play all our matches technically and mentally at 100 per cent, it will be very hard to beat us. So we need to prioritise these two qualities, and it’s up to the coaching staff to support the players so we can avoid the complacency that could see us lose matches.”
Rémi Garde (Lyon coach): ”It’s hard to swallow, but it’s a fair result. We were taught a lesson and it was a real kick in the head. We could have lost by even more. We started well; we were conscientious and focused, but after Aléxandre Lacazette hit the bar, we eased up a bit and Paris took advantage. We made their job easier but still, we were up against a side with a lot of quality. We couldn’t keep up the good work we had done in the first 30 minutes and we had no luck on front of goal. Here [at the Parc des Princes] a lot of other side will suffer this season. We’re not in the same class as Paris.”
Girondins de Bordeaux 4 – 0 AC Ajaccio Grégory Sertic (Bordeaux midfielder): ”I’m very happy. It’s great to score at home; it had been a long time. Collectively, we rediscovered our cutting edge in attack. We needed these three points to make a push and climb back up the table after two complicated matches [against Nantes in Ligue 1 and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League]. We’re happy but this win wasn’t an end in itself. We need to back it up in Guingamp this week. They have the same number of points as we do, and we need to replicate today’s performance so we don’t start slipping down the table again.”
Christian Bracconi (Ajaccio coach): ”We specifically asked our players to start the match well tonight, to be fully focused right from the first whistle – but we couldn’t manage that and we paid for it early on. After that we played a good half-hour but after the break we let it slip and got floored by two quick goals. Sadly, we’ve slipped into a losing mentality. I’d like to see my players find the capacity to react better. Tonight we showed our deficiencies clearly, which is very worrying for the season ahead. We’ll prepare well for the derby against Bastia, and we’ll give it our all, but if we keep playing the way we played today we won’t collect very many points.”
SC Bastia 2 – 0 Evian TG FC Frédéric Hantz (Bastia coach): ”You mustn’t ever just think about the result, even if it’s an important one. I had to reproach my players at half-time for not playing compactly enough, and then the beginning of the second term was perfect. We’re now unbeaten in three matches – two of which were wins – and that’s very important. We’ve shaken off our inconsistent start to the season. [About 'keeper Mickaël Landreau, who made his record-equalling 602nd Ligue 1 appearance] Mika has been a true professional all week and his performance tonight was excellent. He managed to control his emotions and stay focused, as he has done throughout his career.”
Pascal Dupraz (Evian coach): ”I think in the first half that we managed to stifle Bastia more than any other side this season. But in our situation, you need to convert that into goals. We conceded form another defensive error. Bastia sat back and waited for us after that and things got very complicated. But we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We did well with our possession but we just weren’t dangerous enough. We need to bounce back in the weeks to come, or things could get very tricky. Against PSG [in Week 16] we’ll do all we can to hold them off, and you can count on us to never give up.”
Saturday, November 30, 2013
AS Saint-Etienne 4 – 0 Stade de Reims Christophe Galtier (Saint-Etienne coach): ”It was a good afternoon and the playing conditions were fine given the recent bad weather. We have to say thanks to the LFP for bringing the kick-off forward. That allowed us to play on a good pitch for the time of year. It has been a difficult week in which we have not spoken much about football, but I dare say that tonight the image we gave ofLes Verts was a good one. It wasn’t extraordinary match against a side who are tricky opponents when they play away from home, where they have lost just once this season. The team spirit and determination, both essential values at this club, were there today. It was a hard-fought game, but fair. I am very satisfied with the spirit shown by the players. It is a good victory.”
Hubert Fournier (Reims coach): ”The scoreline is harsh. We conceded three goals from dead balls in the space of 15 minutes and then another joke of a goal at the end. We are not proud at conceding four goals. We can say that we controlled the match but when you let in four goals…You can’t hope for much when you leave Bayal unmarked six yards out. We played quite well in midfield but we didn’t create many chances. It sounds strange to say that our four defenders played quite well, but ultimately the game was decided by set-pieces. We have now let in seven goals in two matches. There is a message in there for us and we must listen to it. Maybe we forgot that we needed to show something extra to make sure we stay up, because we are not even halfway through the season. We must do better, otherwise the next few weeks will be very difficult.”
AS Monaco FC 2 – 0 Stade Rennais FC Claudio Ranieri (Monaco coach): ”I am very satisfied. The team was focused and always wary of Rennes on the counterattack. There was commitment. With three matches in a week, it is important to be able to keep the ball and not play too quickly when you are already 2-0 up. I was satisfied with the whole team, notably James (Rodríguez), (Jérémy) Toulalan, (Ricardo) Carvalho. Our objective is to qualify for the Champions League. But if Paris lose their rhythm, I want Monaco to be right behind. (Anthony Martial) is a good player and scorer of goals. He worked well for the team. I have the experience to know when it is a good time to give a player a debut. He is more attentive and focused at the moment. He is tough, young and has the right mentality. I’d prefer him to stay at Monaco in the January transfer window. With so many champions around him, he can learn a lot. He is the quality to become a great player, the potential to have a great player. But the most important thing is to be professional.”
Philippe Montanier (Rennes coach): ”We know that Monaco are superior to us. When we know that, we need to be at least match them in terms of commitment. We made life easier for our opponents by the way we played in the first half, in which we were insipid and inoffensive. We are disappointed and there is bitterness too because commitment is the least you have to display. If you don’t have that commitment, at the Stade Louis II against that team, you do wonder when you will get it. It is a step backwards because recently, without being flamboyant, the commitment has been there. We were a bit better in the second half, but it was still not good enough.”
EA Guingamp 1 – 0 FC Nantes Jocelyn Gourvennec (Guingamp coach): ”It is always good to win. It was a difficult match for both sides, very closely fought, between two closely matched teams. We wanted to win in front of our own fans but Nantes are a good side away from home. Their direct style caused us problems in the first half and we were unable to press them. But we reorganised after half an hour and were more at ease after that, with more numbers in midfield. The game was still missing a goal, and we got it. It was essential to get the first goal, but we should have killed the match after that. It was a good evening for us because the game could have gone either way. We played better in the second half and controlled the game well in the half hour after our goal.”
Michel Der Zakarian (Nantes coach): ”I thought Nantes dominated from the beginning of the match to the end. Guingamp hit us on the break and that was all. We played all the football but our finishing was not good enough in the first half, when we should have killed the match. That sums it up. Our finishing was poor, but otherwise there is no question that we were the better team. But we played some good stuff so I am very happy with my team.”
FC Lorient 3 – 0 OGC Nice Christian Gourcuff (Lorient coach): ”It wasn’t a brilliant performance and I don’t think it was a great match either. We started well and got the goal, but then were on the back foot for the last 20 minutes of the first half. Then, in the second half, we tried to tighten up at the back and then got the second goal, which changed things again. The important thing is that we won the game, and now we can work in peace to try to improve the quality of our football.”
Claude Puel (Nice coach): ”We played well in spells but didn’t get any reward. It is hard to take. Despite some convincing performances, things are not going for us just now. Overall, we played well in every area. The only conclusion we can draw from this match is that we must persevere with what we are doing. Things will eventually start to go right for us again. The attitude was good and we played some good football. We just need to take more of our chances. I have a lot of young players who are learning at these difficult times. We will get out of this. We have another match coming on Tuesday and that is a good thing. It is an important match (against Monaco) and we need to perform.”
Toulouse FC 5 – 1 FC Sochaux Montbéliard Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): ”This is a really satisfying victory, especially because we had been behind. Against a team who started with real intensity, it took us 20 minutes before we began to pose them problems. The third goal just after the break was very important. This result lifts us up the table. We were going through a difficult spell and the team reacted well. We managed to keep calm and continued to play coherently despite Sochaux getting the opening goal. I am very pleased for (Wissam) Ben Yedder. I know he will score 15 goals this season because he is an excellent player.”
Hervé Renard (Sochaux coach): ”Toulouse equalised on a counterattack when we were 1-0 up away from home. Then we committed an error in the 45th minute and another in the 47th. For 25 minutes we caused them problems, but our errors crucified us. We gave Toulouse everything they needed to get their confidence back. We need to turn the page and focus on the home game against Reims on Wednesday because that game is vital. Self-pity achieves nothing in football. The league table does not interest me just now. We will see on Wednesday if we have the mental capacity to react to this. I am not angry with my team. I just want us to get the three points against Reims.”
Valenciennes FC 0 – 1 LOSC Lille Ariël Jacobs (Valenciennes coach): ”We have not lost all hope of staying up. We started the match well and I was hoping that would last for longer than 20 minutes. It was us who allowed them to come into the match at that moment. We made things easier for our opponents. For a team down at the foot of the table it is not easy to score goals. We don’t get the gifts that we give the opposition. We showed more initiative after Lille were reduced to ten men (but) we created too few chances. Lille were well organised and, apart from one or two moments, like Melikson’s shot, we didn’t do enough to get a point. The players are disappointed. At half-time, we thought we could do better but we took a brick to the head right at the start of the second half. But we have the chance on Tuesday to get back on track and we will need to give everything in that game. We must never give up.”
René Girard (Lille coach): ”It wasn’t easy. We went through the full set of emotions. We controlled the game for a spell, and then we scored at a good time, at the start of the second half. Then the sending-off of Franck (Béria) penalised us a little but I think the team showed that they have real heart and that we can count on them. We fought well and I think, even when down to ten men, we caused Valenciennes problems. It would have been better had we finished the game with 11 men because we used up a lot of energy (after the red card), but it is a great win and the kind of result that brings everyone together. As long we keep the same spirit, things will go well for us. Now we need to recuperate. We have some boys who are fresh, others less so, but we just have to get on with it.”
Friday, November 29, 2013
Olympique de Marseille 2 – 0 Montpellier Hérault SC Elie Baup (Marseille coach): ”It’s symbolic and a big moment for Marseille to become the first club to record 1000 Ligue 1 victories. We’re very happy about that and the fact that our squad have contributed to it with this third straight win. We were a bit tired after playing in the Champions League as we didn’t get back from London until 4:30 on Wednesday morning and then had only two days to prepare for this league game. We needed to be strong and organised and the players were just that. We played with a lot of quality in the first half and had chances and went in a goal up. Montpellier played higher up the pitch after the break and had us more in trouble. The match finished well for us with Saber Khalifa’s goal at the end and I’m very happy.”
Jean Fernandez (Montpellier coach): ”I have quite a few regrets this evening because we didn’t convert the chances we created for ourselves in the second half. We lost Djamel Bakar to injury and that was a tough blow. We kept pushing until the final whistle and that left us exposed to Marseille’s counters and we conceded a second goal right at the end. I thought the OM players looked a bit tired after their European game on Tuesday. OM have a very good team with a lot of high-quality attacking players.”
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