Monaco-OM (3-0): Coach's reaction

What is your analysis of the match?

It is a difficult match to analyse. In the first half, we played well. We didn't have any big chances but we still played better than them. We didn't have to suffer, we had a chance to score. I find it hard to understand their first goal. It's a goal you're not supposed to concede, a silly goal, and lately it's been happening a bit too often. These are the episodes that determine the final result, but I don't think the 3-0 scoreline is fair. In the second half, they took the lead and they managed the game and the spaces better. I have always told the truth, my truth. I have told the players that we are still alive, still here to fight. We have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League, I am positive. I saw a team that trains well, I saw the game produced tonight. 3-0, it seems clear but we deserved better tonight. Scoring on our first chance, opening the scoring or going into the dressing room at 1-1, it would have been different. Luis Henrique had more than one chance. There's nothing to say to the players. When I have to, I do it, but this is different. They played really well, I feel sorry for them, they prepared well for this match. I also feel sorry for the people who came from Marseille. I'm optimistic, more than after some defeats and even more than after some victories this season.

You talk about optimism, but are you worried about the podium?

I live and breathe football. I'm always worried; defeat doesn't change that. I'm optimistic when I see what the team produced in the first half. Ulisses Garcia is faster than Derek Cornelius, but sometimes changing things can do more harm than not changing them. I hope Leo Balerdi will be back in the squad soon because he is very important to us. We're going to have to roll up our sleeves, work even harder, keep doing what we're doing and win against Montpellier. The other teams have direct confrontations and the team that will qualify for the Champions League will be the one that wants it the most. My players absolutely want it, I saw that in the first half. I know how to be tough, I also know how to be there, to keep the group together and to stay united. We mustn't ask ourselves questions or think about those who are absent, we must play and do better than we have done recently, particularly in defence.

What did you think of the players' state of mind and the contribution of the substitutes?

The substitutes came on with the right attitude. There was a difference between the first and second halves because after the goal, the game changed. It was a perfect set-up for Monaco, they were getting a bit longer and we were having more trouble in the spaces. For the players, Harit was good. Gouri had a chance, the goalkeeper worked a miracle. Dedić too, even if he made a few mistakes, he came back well. We mustn't look for someone to blame. We have to remember that there are few games left and have the attitude we had in the first half or against Toulouse. There will be direct confrontations with our opponents and it's definitely not over.

What should we have done better in the second half to turn things around?

Score goals. Goals can turn matches in either direction. Luis Henrique missed a brilliant opportunity, Adrien Rabiot also had an opportunity at 1-0, at 2-0 Amine Gouiri had a chance that could have turned the match around, Mason Greenwood's shot in the second half... We could have had more opportunities but if we had converted them, we could have turned the match around.