OM-Montpellier: Press conference

The replay of press conference on twitch

Amir Murillo: ‘I've made a lot of progress with this coach.’

How is the team doing after the defeat in Monaco?

It's difficult, logically. We want to win every game, and we haven't been able to do that. We have to stay united; the goal is clear. We have to think about Montpellier, and the other games will follow.

OM is conceding a lot of goals. How do you explain that?

It's a complicated issue. I'm a defender and I don't want to concede goals. We've had some absences in defence recently. It's difficult for those who are playing and not in their usual positions. We need to improve in this area.

What have you been working on and how is Luiz Felipe Ramos doing?

We've been working on what we work on every day, being closer together on the pitch. Luiz Felipe Ramos is doing well, he'll help us in the last few games.

How are you coping with the changes in defence?

We're a united group. My teammates who have played in different positions have played well. It's getting difficult, those who have played have done well and we hope to do better for the end of the season.

Which position do you prefer?

Throughout my career, I've played in many positions. I've played at full-back, in the centre... I just have to support the team. My favourite position is right-back.

Are you at your best?

An injury disrupts your rhythm in competition. After the injury, I played two games, so I need more games to be at my best.

Could Montpellier be a tricky match?

It's a very important match. We know what we have to do to win. The team's goal is in our hands. We're all working towards the same goal. We need our fans and their confidence. We'll give everything on the pitch to bring them joy.

How do you explain OM's poor run of form?

We've had a dip in form. I can't give any reasons for it. We train and prepare in the best possible way. We've had results that have surprised even us.

In what areas have you improved?

On a personal level, I've improved a lot tactically, in terms of my positioning on the pitch with and without the ball. I come from a different league with a different tactical approach. I've made a lot of progress with this coach.

Is OM managing to make its opponents doubt themselves, particularly through pressing?

We need to improve defensively, but also overall, in all areas. We have a plan for every game. We press, we counter-press, and our opponents also have a plan. We've had some difficulties. I always want to finish with a clean sheet.

How are relations between the coach and the players?

The relationship is very good. We're all very united. The coach always wants movement, he gives a lot of instructions, he's a winner and wants to instil that in us.

Roeberto De Zerbi mentioned you as a leader in the dressing room...

I didn't know he said that about me. There are a lot of players in the dressing room with a lot of experience. They talk to us and keep the group united. Being named one of the leaders motivates me and makes me want to speak up in the dressing room. The group is united and we all talk to each other in the dressing room.

Do you doubt your collective ability to turn things around?

No, there's no doubt in the dressing room. Anxiety perhaps, because we always want to win, to be in the best position in the table, and sometimes we don't always do the right things on the pitch. We try to get the three points, but so does the opposition, and they have their game plan.

At home, you're still performing well...

We've talked about it among ourselves. We struggled at home at the start of the season. That's where we want to be at our best. It's important to win in front of our fans. We always want to win in front of our supporters so they can go home happy after seeing some good football.

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Many players can make the difference’

How has the week been?

I'm not optimistic, I'm trying to be realistic. I saw a good first half in Monaco, with a good attitude and chances. We conceded a silly goal. We have the potential to beat Montpellier. We have to take each game as it comes. On paper, we have the potential to win the last five games. Tomorrow, it all depends on what we want to do, but the result isn't written in stone.

How is Leo Balerdi doing?

I want him to play next week.

How do you adapt your approach depending on your players, particularly in terms of their mental state?

Good question... You don't just analyse results. In the last seven games, we've lost five, which is more than we've lost since the start of the season. Where does this dip come from? I find that difficult to answer. There have been injuries and dips in form. I've always talked about mentality, and that's a problem that still hasn't been resolved. Otherwise, there would be no difference between the first and second halves. Sometimes you have to hug the players, encourage them... You need mental consistency to perform at a high level. Nobody is doing it on purpose, everyone is giving 100%. If we had beaten Lens, we would have been a lot further ahead. The week before, I stopped training twice to put the pressure on.

How do you explain the fact that OM has changed coach every year in recent years?

I'm not going to decide whether to stay or go for the journalists. I'll answer you with respect and you can write what you want. Since 6 July, I've been trying to give my all for this shirt and for this club. I've always been professional, I've made mistakes sometimes. But it annoys me to read false things in the papers. I know how to live in this environment. I've always been honest. I want to help the club get into the Champions League. I'm giving everything to achieve that, just like the players. They sometimes make mistakes too, but that's the truth.

What's the latest on Luiz Felipe Ramos? Could he start?

Start the match? I don't think so.

A word about Ulisses Garcia, who played for Monaco...

He played very well at Monaco. He has different characteristics to Derek Cornelius, who is a nice surprise and a great lad. Ulisses Garcia is faster, I thought he was a good option, the best option.

Could you make a tactical change?

I can change everything in every game. It's the brain and the heart that can make tactical changes. You always have to start with your heart and your brain to win. Without that, the tactical aspect doesn't count, it's zero.

What kind of reception do you expect from the fans?

Our attitude will change the fans‘ attitude. It's the players’ behaviour that makes the fans follow us. In every stadium in the world, the fans give back what the players give them. This season, we want to thank them and we want to do it by qualifying for the Champions League, not just with words.

What solutions do you have for a low block?

We need to move the ball around quickly, finish our attacks, be alert when we lose the ball and also when we have it. We have a lot of players who can make the difference.

Do you intend to field more attacking players?

I can field a lot of attackers, but then we have no defenders left. In Monaco, we played with five defenders and played with a low block. I hadn't done that much in my career. Against Toulouse, we conceded the first goal playing low. There are three things: the brain, the heart and the attributes.

Are you tired of having to explain why you don't change the system?

No, because in Italy they ask even more questions about that. It's part of my job. In twelve years of coaching, I've almost always played with four at the back. A smart coach is one who adapts to the players available. Without Balerdi, we struggle to play with four. We need a player on the right. Kondogbia is not a centre-back. On the wings, our full-backs push forward. We played like that when we were ahead. If I were to stay here next year and we had players who could adapt to a back four, we would play with four at the back. With a number 10, two midfielders... We were second all season and our dip in the last seven games has nothing to do with tactics.