Sunday, April 17 2011

 Paris Saint-Germain -  Olympique Lyonnais: 1-0

Antoine Kombouaré (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "We couldn't have dreamt of anything better. I was looking for a reaction from my players after four games without a win and I have got it with the victories over Caen and now Lyon. I am delighted. We have closed up on the leading places and overtaken Rennes and it was the best way to prepare for Wednesday's French Cup semi-final with Angers. We want to hold on to the trophy."

Claude Puel (Lyon coach): "We had trouble starting the match. We didn't know whether to attack or defend. But in the second half we showed our value and just lacked a bit of luck, notably when we hit the bar. It was a great chance to close the gap to Lille. We want to finish in the top two. The fight to the line will be difficult for all the clubs concerned."

 Montpellier Hérault SC - Olympique de Marseille: 1-2

René Girard (Montpellier coach): "Top level football demands something more than just running around. I don't believe we're using our heads enough at the moment. Defenders need to be rigorous and serious for 90 minutes. We are unable to go a whole match without making a big mistake."

Didier Deschamps (Marseille coach): "We are laughing because we managed to turn the situation around. Equalising gave us confidence and it's true this was a success won with the heart. 25 minutes from time people would have been writing us off in terms of the title but at full-time we were back in the hunt. I'm not going to jump up to the ceiling. I am measured in my reaction."

 AC Arles-Avignon -  Valenciennes FC: 0-1

Faruk Hadzibegic (Arles-Avignon coach): "I have the impression that we have learnt nothing since July or August. It breaks my heart and it is hard for the fans. We are frustrated, vexed even, we are sad but ultimately the season has shown up our limitations."

Philippe Montanier (Valenciennes coach): "The essential thing was to obtain the three points we needed. It wasn't a pretty win but it was one of the most important. It has helped us in our relegation battle but it is far from being enough. I think it will go down to the final match and we are ready to suffer until the last."

Saturday, April 16 2011

 LOSC Lille Métropole -  Girondins de Bordeaux: 1-1

Rudi Garcia (Lille coach): "Why should we be worried? Monaco was an off day but Bordeaux showed they were a good side here in the first half. They could have scored but we knew they would not be able to keep it up. We played very well in the second half but conceded a goal from their strong point of set pieces. Lorient helped us out by getting a point at Rennes. I am happy with the way my players performed."

Jean Tigana (Bordeaux coach): "I am frustrated because we dropped two points, although compared to our last match it was night and day in terms of our commitment. Away we are solid but our problems have been at home where we have dropped too many points. With a player like Moussa Sow in our ranks we would have more points on the board. After Arles-Avignon I had a tough evening. I would like to congratulate my players for the way they reacted."

 Stade Rennais FC -  FC Lorient: 1-2

Frédéric Antonetti (Rennes coach): "I am making do with the players at my disposal and that is not to take anything away from the Lorient win. My players suffered physically and we hardly did anything in training this week. We will try to bounce back and find solutions. Ligue 1 is a brutal fight and I am not sure I will have my full squad to pick from for any of the remaining seven fixtures."

Christian Gourcuff (Lorient coach): "At eleven v eleven I could not believe we were behind. The first red card made it easier for us. At 2-1 up though I was concerned that Rennes might come back at us. We played fluent football, especially for the second goal with the double 1-2. On 43 points we are not safe but we are less afraid. Winning at Rennes for the first time? Well it had to happen before I retire!"

 RC Lens -  Stade Brestois 29: 1-1

Laszlo Bölöni (Lens coach): "We cannot hide away from the fact that the players were devastated at the end of the match. We wanted to win at all costs but maybe the fear factor was too much for us to handle. It was omnipresent even after we took the lead and it weighed on us. We needed the second goal but the ball would not go in for us."

Alex Dupont (Brest coach): "We did not start well despite hitting the bar in the 10^th minute and they deserved to be 1-0 in front. In fact it could have been more. We came back into it well in the second half and in fact it was a game of two halves. I think a draw was a fair result as we took risks in the second half. We are not yet safe but we are getting closer."

 OGC Nice -  AS Monaco FC: 3-2

Eric Roy (Nice coach): "The satisfaction is there in the three points but also in the way we played, one of our best matches of the season. Scoring three goals is always gratifying and we could have scored a fourth or even a fifth. We deserved this win and the gap between the sides was bigger than 3-2. It was an important but by no means decisive win in our quest to stay in the division."

Laurent Banide (Monaco coach): "I am very disappointed as I thought the patient was better after wins over Arles-Avignon and Lille but we are now sick again. We were not up to scratch and started badly. We are not dead and buried and we will keep fighting. We have some tough games coming up and we are going to have to show some guts to stay up."

 AS Saint-Etienne -  AS Nancy Lorraine: 2-1

Christophe Galtier (Saint-Etienne coach): "It was a good match and the fans would not have found it boring. It was very open with a lot of chances. We are now on 44 points and are now safe from relegation. I am relieved that we won this evening because we made life hard for ourselves."

Pablo Correa (Nancy coach): "We can have some regrets because we led in this game. Nobody is doling out presents to us but we are sending gift-wrapped things to other clubs. We let them back into the game through our mistakes. We gave away the game and such errors always get punished at this level. We let the game slip from our grasp."

 FC Sochaux Montbéliard -  SM Caen: 3-2

Francis Gillot (Sochaux coach): "I am happy with the result but not with the way we played. The first half was so sad! To have won this game was something of a miracle and I spare a thought for Caen who did not deserve to lose. This was our worst match of the season at the Bonal and we just kept gifting them chances."

Romain Hamouma (Caen midfielder): "We have plenty of regrets after this game. We played well in the first half and came out fighting in the second half but their second goal damaged us badly. We knew staying in Ligue 1 would be difficult. Caen were aggressive and the team sprit was there but we just lacked a bit of calm at the vital moment. We played well."

 Toulouse FC -  AJ Auxerre: 0-1

Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): "We did not have many chances but we could have opened the scoring. They defended in numbers but from conceding possession stupidly we lost the game. I said to my players that if things were not going our way then we should settle for a point to keep our advantage over Auxerre intact. Next week we have a huge game at Caen. There are seven games left and we need at least two wins. I know we will be OK."

Cédric Hengbart (Auxerre defender): "It was a small hold-up, but we just enjoyed the luck that seemed to have deserted us a long, long time ago. We were not dangerous and got lucky. It was a great night for us as other results also went our way. We knew it was important to win away. This was not the turning point, that arrives next week when we face Lens."

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