Angers-OM: Press conference

Replay of press conference on Twitch

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Very happy with the mercato’.

Angers-OM

I saw the match against Strasbourg. It was a difficult match. In L1, anyone can lose to anyone. It's a tough game, but it's within our reach. We're preparing in the best possible way.

Luis Henrique

He's having a great season, showing that he's a complete player with or without the ball. He's scoring goals, he's young and he always wants to improve. He's one of OM's most important players.

Ismaël Bennacer

No, I didn't see that interview. I would have liked him to come to Brighton. It's a big transfer for us. His characteristics are compatible with our game. He's a top player. He really wanted to come to Marseille. We talked about it back in August. We spoke about it again a few hours before the end of the transfer window on Monday morning. When Medhi Benatia told me about the possibility, we stopped the music, as we say in Italy.

Tactics

I'm not talking about risks, I'm talking about advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes you don't make the right choices. I don't want us to take risks. To score, you have to eliminate opponents. To score, you either score from 30 metres out or you eliminate opponents. Sometimes you have to guide the ball, sometimes you have to wait for the opposition.

Angers and ball possession

Yes, I've seen that Angers don't have a lot of possession, but there are teams capable of playing and technical players. You have to pay attention and use the ball well. You also have to be ready to react and get the ball back. You can't be in a hurry to score. Tolisso's first goal came from a mistake. If we're ready and efficient, the ball doesn't arrive 30 metres from goal.

The "mercato"

I haven't thought about that yet. I want to get to know the players well. I'm very happy with the move. These are 4 players who will raise the level of the team. I have no doubts. Medhi Benatia is just as important as Rabiot, Greenwood or Højbjerg. When you ask him for a player, he brings you a very good one. With Pablo Longoria, they've done a great job. We need to find a way of getting them to play and win games so that we can do even better than we did in the first half of the championship.

Geoffrey Kondogbia

I'm expecting a lot from him, he's a mainstay and we've missed him a lot. He can play in midfield and defence. He's a strong player, but we'll have to see how many minutes he has in his legs. Amine Harit is also coming back. These are problems for me because everyone is fit.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and set-pieces

He's the one who takes them best. It's not Mason Greenwood's speciality. Quentin Merlin has the foot to take them, as does Luis Henrique, but he doesn't take them with the right force. We lose centimetres in the box and he knows how to move. But we have other players who jump into the box. We need to improve when we take set-pieces.

Recruits and tactics

Before I like tactics, I like strong players. With strong players, you can play any tactic. I'm happy with the new recruits, I'm not asking for more.

Are any of the new recruits already regulars?

There are 4 new recruits but they didn't arrive at the same time. We haven't yet tested Ramos' physical condition. Gouiri is ready to start. The other two have just arrived. Dedic and Bennacer are intelligent players and won't need much time to integrate into the team. But we still need a minimum of time.

The striker position

I expect goals, pressure and generosity. I don't like egotists. Everyone has to give something for their team-mates, the shirt and the club. Neal Maupay has scored goals and has the affection of everyone. He was decisive.

Experienced players to cope with the pressure

As far as Brassier, Wahi and Koné are concerned, we need to look at the history. They have qualities and will surely succeed elsewhere. As far as OM and its environment are concerned, they haven't managed to express their values, but I have no doubt about their qualities. Wahi is at Frankfurt, so it's not a club that makes a lot of mistakes when it comes to recruitment. We have very clear ambitions. With Pablo and Medhi, we're trying to do our best and go from strength to strength.

Paul Pogba

Nobody can change the balance in the dressing room. That's not the problem. Pogba is a great player, but we need to understand where to use him, in what position, when he's fit again. The more champions there are, the happier I am. That was a general assessment and it could change because he's a great champion.

Rapid changes in the squad

The world moves very fast and so does football. You just have to have the strength to make decisions that are sometimes difficult to take. You have to make them at the right time, not too early and not too late. Not every choice can be perfect. We work with Medhi, Pablo and the staff on a case-by-case basis. We try to make the best decisions.

Defence

We have to work on everything, including the defensive aspect. It's not perfect, but there are opponents out there. We've played some good teams. You also have to look at the way the games have gone.

Marseille, the city, the club

I'm very happy with the club. We say things to each other's faces. I prefer to leave when people lie to me. We have ambitions. We're second but everything we've done is worth nothing. There are still 14 games to go... I don't have time to visit the city, we're working all the time and we've got our heads under water.

The place of young players

When the squad gets stronger, space for youngsters is harder to find. The pitch is king. Bakola is making progress even though he's injured. Robinio Vaz did well when he came on. Abdallah is a quality player. Koum is very young, as are the others. When they're needed and if they're ready, I'll play them.

Luis Henrique: ‘The coach has changed my attitude on the pitch’.

We were very happy, we gave the stadium a lot of pleasure. Victory was important.

I've grown in terms of maturity. It's enabled me to perform better in the team.

It's going to be a tough game against a team with a good record. It may look like a trap game but we're going to do our best.

Jean-Louis Gasset has helped me. All the coaches I've known in my career have helped me to grow and progress.

Yes, I have to work and prepare myself to do my best.

Adrien Rabiot plays a bit higher up the pitch. He's good technically and helps me a lot out on the pitch.

No, I haven't had any discussions.

Defensively, I need to improve.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg gives good advice. Other players also help me a lot on a day-to-day basis.

Yes, Roberto De Zerbi is a coach who has changed my attitude on the pitch.

I work a lot with my coach to give my all for OM. I'm very happy to be here and I want to give my all on the pitch.

Yes, of course, it's something I wanted to do, I like to work hard and it's paid off on the pitch. I'm very happy about that.