Sunday, January 27, 2019

Paris Saint-Germain 4 - 1 Stade Rennais FC

Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "Rennes are a quality opponent, still in the running in the Europa League. They played with a lot of desire - something we were lacking a little bit in the first half. We needed to fight back and that’s exactly what the team did. In the second half we played with a lot more quality; we were more aggressive, and we played with the right mentality. We deserved the win and we are very happy."

Julien Stéphan (Stade Rennais FC coach): "We more than held our own, especially in the first half. We came looking to play good football - we didn't want to allow Paris to dominate possession. We knew that, in order to get a result here, we would have to play a perfect match - and a perfect match lasts 90 minutes. Unfortunately, after the hour-mark, the two quick goals really hurt us. Our only regrets are that we allowed our opponents these two opportunities."

Montpellier Hérault SC  2 - 0  SM Caen

Michel Der Zakarian (Montpellier coach): "We needed to get back to winning ways as we'd not won since December 1 at Montpellier, some time ago. We did it in our first home match since the winter break. We didn't succeed with much in the first half but we upped the tempo in the second half and took some chances. The scoreline would have been even bigger had we been more clinical in front of goal."

Fabien Mercedal (Caen coach): "It's no longer frustration, it's exasperation. We were coherent in the first half before falling apart. We're lacking confidence because of our recent results and we needed to be solid for longer. We need to correct the problem otherwise we'll face more problems. The turning point was the first goal and the two goals we conceded were risible."

Toulouse FC 0-0 Angers SCO

Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): "A draw is a fair result. We can say that we won on points in the second half and them in the first. I preferred to wait until half-time to reorganise the team. We were better in the second half but didn't take our chances. Nobody's upset with Max-Alain because he has given us so much since the start of the season."

Stéphane Moulin (Angers coach): "We could have gone in front in the first half as we had chances but overall the draw is a fair result. The only regret we have is not having converted our chances. All points are important ad maybe even more so for us and so taking a point here was a good thing."

 Amiens SC  0 - 1  Olympique Lyonnais

Christophe Pelissier (Amiens coach): "We're disappointed and frustrated because we stood up to one of the top teams in the league. Unfortunately we didn't take any points and that's tough. I'm disappointed for the lads. They deserved something for all the effort and quality they put into the game. What we did gives me hope as long as we keep the same values. It makes me optimistic for the games to come."

Bruno Genesio (Lyon coach): "It was important to win to keep moving forward because Lille, Montpellier and Nice had all won. We needed to obtain the same result as them and we did and I think we did it in style. We're at ease in this system and I think above all we had more confidence. Jason Denayer has scored two goals and we've won both games 1-0 so he's scored very, very important goals."

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Dijon FCO 2-0 AS Monaco

Antoine Kombouaré (Dijon coach): "For me, the really big game will be in week 38, but this was important, because Monaco were behind us and we didn't want them to close the gap. We have gone from being two points ahead of them to five points ahead. We are really satisfied and proud as well. Monaco have some really good players and they caused us problems in the first quarter of an hour. Monaco had a great chance to take the lead, and even at 1-0 we needed Bobby (Allain) to make a superb save. Monaco could have beaten us in terms of their technical ability, their experience, but not in terms of motivation and desire. With energy and heart, we did what we needed to do to win the game."

Franck Passi (Monaco interim coach): "My immediate future is not the main point in a situation where Monaco are still 19th. The analysis is simple. We had the first two chances and if we had taken the lead, we would have made the match far easier for ourselves and probably would have won. We had chances just as we did in the last four or five matches, but we always make the same fatal error. We let our opponent pass us by, and then we are left chasing the game and it is obviously going to be more difficult. The mental problem comes when we look at the league table. These players have quality. They are equipped to be able to stay up, but it just needs a little trigger that has to come quickly. There are still games left."

EA Guingamp 0-1 Stade de Reims 

Jocelyn Gourvennec (Guingamp coach): "We were well organised so as not to leave them any spaces, but the balls we gave away cheaply had consequences because they opened the scoring against the run of play. We were on top at the start of the second half, but we needed to take advantage of that. We kept ourselves in the game but it was not enough to get an equaliser. Things went against us, like the sending-off. It is more the incidents in the game than our situation in the table that are impacting on the team just now. We know where we are in the table, but it is the different aspects of the game that can keep us in the fight."

David Guion (Reims coach): "The players fought ever so hard for each other. We showed that we have a quality squad. Guingamp decided to sit back at the start, and then some spaces opened up and we made the most of them. We suffered in the first 10 minutes of the second half but the sending-off of Djilobodji and the introduction of Marvin Martin allowed us to take control again. Overall we were not troubled and we played well in key moments."

OGC Nice  2 - 0  Nîmes Olympique

Patrick Vieira (Nice coach): "It is a great victory. We showed great spirit and discipline and it was a pretty complete performance from the team. We could have scored more goals, and defensively we were solid. Walter (Benítez) is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. We are evolving, and the players are enjoying playing together. We need to get behind them. We have injured players coming back and the younger ones are doing well. I don't know if we will strengthen the team. We are lacking attacking players but we could strengthen from within. We need to keep improving. I know the players will do all they can to get into Europe and it is my responsibility to get the best out of them."

Bernard Blaquart (Nîmes coach): "We were deservedly beaten by a better team. It is a shame that we couldn't get a goal in the first half, but we were too tender in the final third. We lacked the legs this evening, with this being our fourth game in 10 days. Nice have some very fast players, and I thought they were much more lively than us. We are not boxing in the same category as them, so losing in Nice is nothing to be ashamed of. We were not a disgrace, and we have 29 points so there is no reason for us to fall apart. We are not worried, as long as we don't suddenly have 10 players out injured."

RC Strasbourg Alsace  1 - 0  Girondins de Bordeaux

Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg coach): "It was cruel for Bordeaux, we have to be honest. But we are obviously really pleased. It was an ordinary move, but the goal itself certainly was not. Defences had been on top. It was a match which was decided by not very much, but that not very much went our way. We are not going to get carried away but we are in a great position. We have 35 points and after 22 matches that is fantastic. We have an important game to come on Wednesday and another on Sunday. Bordeaux will come back wanting revenge and it will be another tight game. There is not much between the two teams."

Éric Bedouet (Bordeaux coach): "It was a game of few chances. It should have ended in a draw but we lost it, and that is our fault for not being vigilant enough. We have players who need to waken up and stay focused until the very end. It is awful, catastrophic, to concede a goal right at the end like that. We can't afford to fail to pick players up like that. It is hard to take, but we need to look forward now. To get into the final (of the Coupe de la Ligue) we will need to make up for this blunder."

Friday, January 25, 2019

 Olympique de Marseille 1-2 LOSC 

Rudi Garcia (Marseille coach): "This is a cruel defeat and we weren't spared anything. We didn't do everything right, otherwise we wouldn't have lost, but honestly you need to look at what the lads did, even down to ten men. There were plenty of signs of hope in the attitude of the players when down to ten men and Mario's goal. Mario couldn't play for more than 15-20 minutes. It was a risk we took because we needed him."

Christophe Galtier (LOSC coach): "This is a big result and we're on a good run since the winter break. This is our fourth straight away win. We came to a direct rival, a team in trouble for various reasons and missing several players. It was the chance to keep the distance over OM, even to build on it, and that's a good thing. All I regret is the goal we conceded at the end. The turning point wasn't Thauvin's red card, it was the goals we scored."