Coach, Denis Zakaria is still absent and your team is suffering without him…
Of course we miss him, but it would be too simple to say that we can’t win when Denis is not on the pitch. So it doesn’t make sense to talk about that. I think he will perhaps come back against Strasbourg (Saturday 5 p.m. in L1), but we will miss him again tomorrow (read Tuesday). But I am totally convinced that we must have a good match against Bologna. We will see how we manage his absence on the field.
Bologna has just won for the first time in seven months at home, last weekend against Lecce (1-0). Do you think this team will be boosted?
For me, Bologna is a very good team. She had a great season last year (4th in Serie A) and she has a very experienced coach. He has clear ideas and he led Fiorentina to the Conference League final last year. They have very good individuals like Orsolini or Freuler, their number 6 and playmaker from the back. He played at Atalanta, he has experience too. The victory against Lecce will give them great confidence. They are a dangerous team.
“We were very angry after the defeat against Angers”
How did you re-mobilize your team after the defeat against Angers?
We were very angry after this defeat. We cannot compare it to that of Nice. The reasons for these setbacks are different. In Nice, we played with ten and we had problems, but with eleven we dominated. Whereas against Angers, we missed everything, especially in the first half. Everything we did well before: pressing, our transitions, working together offensively and defensively. The defeat was very hard. It wasn’t what we hoped for but we analyzed it well. Tomorrow is another match and another competition. Our main objective is to leave Bologna with points.
Have you changed anything in your management?
Yes, it was a little different compared to other defeats. For what ? Because we lacked a lot of things against Angers. I’m talking about mentality and behavior. We have high goals and I cannot accept this kind of performance. I hope the players do things well tomorrow.
Ben Seghir did not start the last two matches, you replaced him at halftime against Belgrade. Is there anything currently bothering you about his game?
This is his first professional season with full preparation. He is 19 years old, he plays a lot since he is a Moroccan international. He travels quite a bit and there can be a little fatigue. We need to protect him and give him rest to recover. But I feel like he’s in better shape today. That’s why he doesn’t always play.
400 Monegasque supporters will be in the stands tomorrow. This is good news…
I hope for a good atmosphere, especially after the victory against Lecce. It’s also an important match for them since they have only taken one point in three games. We are happy to have 400 Monaco supporters with us. That they follow us and are behind us is very important. We want to celebrate something with them tomorrow.
“The coach’s words will wake up the group”
Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, a former Torino and Serie A player, knows Bologna well. The Ivorian was also present this Monday at the press conference before the match.
“Nice and Angers are consecutive defeats that are difficult to digest,” he said. “Since then, the coach has spoken to us a lot and motivated us. He told us not to give up and to continue working. Bologna, It’s a match that we prepared well for, even if we never had enough time to do it. Was the coach hard on us? Yes, and that’s normal. rigorous coach Frankly, his words go. wake up the group. If we win tomorrow, it will boost the morale of the team. I think it will go well. Will we at least qualify for the February play-offs if we win? 10 points)? I don’t want to project too much.”
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Coach. Let’s start with the missing piece of your puzzle—Denis Zakaria. How are you managing his absence?
**Coach:** Of course we miss Denis. It simplifies things to say we can’t win without him, but that’s not the case. We have to adapt. He might be back for our next match against Strasbourg, but we will have to focus on our game against Bologna without him. It’s crucial that we perform well collectively regardless of one player missing.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of Bologna, they just secured their first win in seven months. How do you see that impacting them?
**Coach:** Bologna is a strong team. Last season, they were impressive, finishing fourth in Serie A. They have an experienced coach who guided Fiorentina to the Conference League final last year. Their recent victory against Lecce will certainly boost their confidence, making them a dangerous opponent.
**Interviewer:** You faced a tough defeat against Angers. How have you rallied the team after that setback?
**Coach:** We were definitely frustrated after that loss. It was different from our loss to Nice, where we had to deal with being a player down. Against Angers, we failed to execute our strategy, especially in the first half. We’ve analyzed our performance and now, it’s all about refocusing for tomorrow’s match against Bologna. Our goal is to secure points.
**Interviewer:** Have you made any changes to your management style in light of recent performances?
**Coach:** Absolutely. Following the loss to Angers, we’ve changed our approach a bit because we need to raise our standards. The mentality and behavior on the pitch need to align with our high goals. I expect the team to respond well in our upcoming match.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, about young talent Ben Seghir—he hasn’t started in the last two matches. Are there concerns about his performance?
**Coach:** It’s important to remember that this is his first full professional season. He’s only 19 and regularly plays for the Moroccan national team, which can lead to fatigue. We need to manage his load carefully to ensure he recovers properly. I’m seeing improvements, and that gives me confidence in his development.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Coach. Best of luck against Bologna!
