A missed opportunity?
“I do have some regrets, yes. At 1-0 up, we could have scored a second goal if we’d kept things simpler in possession to take advantage of some promising situations. Then we conceded the equaliser just before half-time and didn’t manage the start of the second half properly. We had to chase the game after that. We created chances but we also have to admit that Paris could have scored more goals.”
An encouraging performance?
“Yes but the fact is that we lost. We didn’t pick up any points but we won’t play against Paris Saint-Germain every week. All of our direct rivals in the relegation battle still have to face them. But I have to insist that we can never be satisfied with a 3-1 defeat. We come away from the game wondering what could have been. That puts how we played tonight into perspective. I really liked the performances from my attacking players though. Denis Bouanga was in inspired form, as was Arnaud Nordin. And Ryad Boudebouz showed his technical quality once again.”
Big calls in the starting XI
“PSG are very dangerous on the left flank with Neymar and Nuno Mendes in particular. I wanted to put Mahdi Camara in the middle, as he is used to helping out in there, and to play Falaye Sacko in his natural position out on the right. He was able to show his technical ability there, which has given me some ideas for the future.”
Mbappé
“He’s an exceptional player. When you’re watching the game – and I’m in a privileged position to do that – you see him set off on his runs and feel bad that you have to track him and try to stop him. We’re going home empty-handed tonight because of the the talent PSG have.”
Team spirit
“My players have a good grasp of what their job is as professional footballers. It’s not a done deal but we’re going to keep doing everything we possibly can to make sure Saint-Étienne stay in Ligue 1. Our incredible fans are our 12th man and our top scorer wasn’t playing tonight, those factors will give us a big advantage. Nothing has been decided yet. We’re going to go back to l’Étrat, remember the things that we did well, work on the things that didn’t go so well and get ready for next weekend’s game against Metz (Sunday at 1pm), which is hugely important.”