Sunday, February 5, 2012

Olympique de Marseille 2 - 2 Olympique Lyonnais

Didier Deschamps (Marseille coach): "I'm both disappointed and not. Yes, because we were fortunate enough to be two goals up after playing an excellent opening 35 minutes. No, because after that we took our foot off the gas and conceded an avoidable goal before turning the ball into our own net. Even though we bounced back in the second half, we let Lyon back into the match and they had more chances than we did, almost punishing us at the end of the match. We didn't have the juice left at the end to turn the match in our favour. We've been playing every three or four days, but still tonight's not the greatest result for us even though we've taken seven from a possible nine points against three direct rivals [Lille, Rennes, Lyon]. We're in the thick of it now, and we absolutely have to stay on this positive dynamic."

Rémi Garde (Lyon coach): "It's a good draw for us but still it leaves us a bit dissatisfied. We had chances to take the lead. But we mustn't forget that we were two goals down and needed to press our luck to get back into the running, which was a pretty strong effort considering that, after all, we were in Marseille. In the first half of the season, we were more active than reactive, but tonight we lacked aggression at times. Paris and Montpellier both won and widened the gap a bit and really tonight's result does little for Lyon or Marseille. We'll do our best not to pay too much attention to the others and focus on our own game."

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>> Scores Week 22

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Dijon FCO 1 - 2 Valenciennes FC

 

Patrice Carteron (Dijon coach): "I am not going to hide behind the conditions to explain why we lost. The pitch was difficult for the two teams and Valenciennes adapted to it better than us. I am aware of the fact that we didn't perform, but I still have full confidence in the squad and I take full responsibility for this defeat. We were booed by our own fans, which is tough, but we must accept it. Nothing worked today, even if my players reacted quite well at the start of the second half."

Daniel Sanchez (Valenciennes coach): "The playing conditions were really difficult, but we adapted. I asked my team to keep it simple, avoid playing the ball back the way and be attentive. Technically we coped very well. It is a great result to come and win here against a direct rival, and claim our first away win of the season. But now we need to build on this."

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>> Scores Week 22

AS Nancy Lorraine 0 - 0 Stade Rennais FC

Jean Fernandez (Nancy coach): "The conditions were difficult, especially because of the cold. The artificial surface was a bit tough. It wasn't a great game, but both teams tried to play football. Nevertheless, I think we deserved to win over the piece. We had the best chances. I am happy with the point though against a good Rennes side. We didn't concede a goal and didn't give them many chances, which is positive too. Now we need to build on this. But we have been better over the last couple of games. We are on a good run. We know it will be difficult right until the end of the season but we have a better case for beating the drop now than we did before the winter break."

Frédéric Antonetti (Rennes coach): "Before analysing the match, we will talk about another thing. First of all, we have to thank the authorities for allowing us to play this game at three o'clock, and the referees for allowing all of the players to warm up together at the same time. But even at three o'clock we shouldn't have been playing this game. People say that the artificial surfaces are perfect for playing on in the winter months. But I felt it was even worse than playing on a frozen pitch. It was anything but football. We have the same problem every year. I knew this game would end 1-0, 0-1 or 0-0 because of the conditions. A goal was only ever going to come from a mistake. 0-0 is a good result for us away from home but I would have preferred to play in normal conditions.

>> Teamsheet
>> Scores Week 22

AC Ajaccio

 1 - 1

 OGC Nice

 

Olivier Pantaloni (Ajaccio coach): "We did what we had to do against a side who came here first and foremost to defend. We started really well and generally dominated from start to finish. The final pass was perhaps lacking but it wasn't easy against such a well-organised Nice side. We can't reproach anyone tonight. Everyone did their job. This keeps the run going. It is positive."

René Marsiglia (Nice coach): "We came from absolutely nowhere to take a point. Our first-half performance was as bad as we have been all season. I am not looking for excuses but this was our sixth match in five weeks. With injuries, players away at the AFCON and players suspended, it wasn't easy. But we found the resources to get an equaliser, which is positive. This point will do us a lot of good mentally."

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>> Scores Week 22

Paris Saint-Germain 3 - 1 Evian TG FC

 

Carlo Ancelotti (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "It was a difficult match. In the first half, Evian played well and created a good few problems for us. Naturally, I think that we must play better, with more order, more confidence, and more rigour because we allowed Evian to get the ball forward too easily. But even when you don't play well you must win. We created more good chances in the second half. I changed the system because we needed to put more pressure on the midfield. Motta was good, he played with confidence and personality. But it was his first match for a new team. I liked our second-half reaction, and the work put in by the players. For a striker it is always important to score. I said to Gameiro that the important thing is to keep working and moving for the team. I am happy that he scored. It will do him good. As for Nenê, well he has been good since the start of the season."

Pablo Correa (Evian TG) coach: "We leave here very disappointed. We got ourselves into a very favourable situation in the first half. But we didn't take our chances and our opponents have such talented players. There was a sense of injustice. We played our game, but didn't get the result we wanted. We played some good stuff. The team must keep their heads up. I didn't like the fact that we conceded an equaliser so soon after half time. We must be capable of holding on to a lead."

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>> Scores Week 22

Montpellier Hérault SC

 1 - 0 Stade Brestois 29

René Girard (Montpellier coach): "It wasn't an easy game against a side who don't concede many goals away from home. But we got the job done. We kept it tight at the back and created a few chances. We were never really in danger. We tried to play, to open them up. It was just worrying to lose Geoffrey Dernis during the game. We are not worrying too much about other teams. PSG will not be watching us, or waiting for us. Now we need to recover well because we have a Cup match to come. But luckily we have got people back from the AFCON. It is a squad game. The Coupe de France remains an objective for us and will give everyone a chance to get some game time."

Alex Dupont (Brest coach): "We should have done better tonight but we were awful in the first half. We were worryingly poor in the first half and only Steeve (Elana) kept us in the match. Then my team reacted and created chances to equalise. We defended solidly but I would have liked to have seen us start the game better and not be forced to come from behind like we had to against PSG. Like against PSG, we were timid and not enterprising enough. We showed in the second period that we can do better. We just need to do better collectively and take more responsibility for making the play."

>> Teamsheet
>> Scores Week 22

Girondins de Bordeaux

 2 - 0

 Toulouse FC

Francis Gillot (Bordeaux coach): "That is the fourth or fifth time recently that we have won 2-0. It was a good evening. We were lucky enough to get such an early goal, just like against Nancy. We were never totally relaxed after that but things are going quite well just now. Without being brilliant we are collecting points and winning games, which is encouraging. There are still moments of inconsistency, but there are plenty of positives, notably the two new boys who gave us a lot and will improve over time."

Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): "The first goal was a blow and also obliged us to react. We left ourselves with a massive handicap in the first minute of the game. We lost this game because of little individual errors caused by the pressing of the Bordeaux strikers. It is not a satisfying night, this defeat leaves a bitter taste in our throats."

>> Teamsheet
>> Scores Week 22

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