MHSC – Monaco: “When they are at this level of involvement, then we have a team” assures Jean-Louis Gasset after the success against Monaco

The players can celebrate after this victory. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

The Montpellier coach returned in a press conference to the good match played overall but especially by these executives who responded present in the state of mind.

How much good did this victory do? ?

In every way. It was a tough fight against an opponent who was technically stronger than us, but who was stacking up matches and had obligations in the Champions League. So, if we wanted it more than them, we could have achieved something. We did.

We felt you were timid in the first half. What made something else happen in the second half? ?

No, in the first half, we weren't shy. We had a game plan, because they have a much stronger technical mastery than us. And we decided to counter by putting Tamari up front, with Khazri and Savanier who were the throwers. And at the end of the first half, we conceded a goal from a set piece, but we had the two chances. Tamari curled it, she didn't go very far. And Khazri came a little diagonally in front of the goalkeeper and hit the goalkeeper. So, the plan was respected. We didn't have the ball, but as soon as we countered… We were a little nervous in this first recovery. Monaco is physically strong, it's the team in the middle that wins the most duels.

In the second half, we let loose. Technically, we were much better at feeding our arrow up front.

To win matches, you often need a striker who scores goals and a goalkeeper who makes a lot of saves. What can you say about the performance of Benjamin Lecomte and Moussa Al Tamari ?

They are the leaders. When the leaders are at that level, when I see Wahbi (Khazri) defending, when I see Teji repositioning himself and Benjamin reassuring us, that is the role of the leaders. Leaders must be examples. It is in all groups, that is how it is. When they are at that level of involvement, then we have a team.

That is what I said at the end of the match. We have taken a small step. But if we are in this state of mind and we bring our technical quality, because technically, we are worth more than that, we can hope for something.

Tamari is the player who is capable of scoring goals until the end of the season to save the club ? Because that is what has been lacking in efficiency until now.

Of course, of course. He has the range to be able to play on the wing or at the point. When we play against a team that has technical mastery in the middle and leaves us 40 meters behind them, he is the prototype of the player who scares us. But I have been here for three months and I see a very good Tamari.

Is it only the confidence you showed tonight that made the difference in relation to Angers? ?

No, it's not just that. It's not just confidence. There is still this revolt. Because after the Angers match, we took, as they say. I read an article again this morning where we are in agony, we have the worst faults in the world. We were perhaps buried a little too quickly.

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It's true that losing against Angers at home, after having played a match in Lyon, where we had really come close to a point, or even three. The scenario in Lyon is very difficult to swallow. The Angers match, we didn't know how to play it intellectually. We should have been in control of ourselves, we were under pressure. But that's what we have to give to this group, it's confidence. But for that, they have to want to work a lot harder, they have to want to put themselves in the state of mind they were in this evening. And there, we can have hope.

 

Have you had more certainties with your team tonight ?

I told you once it's yes or no. Today, it was yes. Against Angers, it was no. In Lyon, it was yes. In Le Puy, it was no. I yo-yo. I live with a yo-yo. When they are like that, I lose my voice trying to explain to them that football is difficult. But now, they are fine, they are comfortable in their own skin. But they are tired, they are dead. We have to leave the field like that. And then, at the end of May, we will see where we are.

How did you judge the young Mouanga's match, and more generally on these youngsters? ? Does the solution also come from them? ?

You know, it happened to me in Lyon. When I saw the changes in Lyon where the coach opposite, he brings in Tolisso, he brings in Cherki… And there, tonight, the same, we see Embolo come in, we see Golovin come in… We tell ourselves that we are not playing the same sport. We bring in young people from the training center who have qualities, but who must come in at opportune moments. It is not the youngster who will make the difference, it is the executives who must set an example. Those who are above must set an example. Benjamin Lecomte today, Théji Savanier have shown that they go to the end of themselves. When it is like that, the youngsters around can play with confidence and we can interchange them. There are some who do not have an hour and a half in the buffet to play a match against international players. But in this respect, we lose Maksimovic to Lyon, while he is the only player we have been able to take for two months. And the player who could replace Maksimovic, plays ten minutes and gets a red card. That's when you say to yourself that it's very difficult. So you have to trust a youngster.

You took your twelve points at the Mousson. Does that mean that staying up will be decided here? Or is there a method to try to take points from Toulouse so that the yoyo stays at the top at that time?

There, we are no longer going to look at the place. For us, it's the state of mind, it's how we are going to play, what is going to happen in the transfer window. We are in total uncertainty.