Leonardo Jardim hailed the strength of AS Monaco's youth academy as his fresh-faced squad secured a potentially decisive win against SM Caen. All the Week 36 reactions here...
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Olympique de Marseille 2-1 OGC Nice
Rudi Garcia (Marseille coach): "This was a very good win because we were up against a very good side who led in the game and we were playing three days on from a European semi-final that went to extra-time and cost us a lot of energy. It's admirable what the lads did and the win is for the squad. Payet is the Dimitri we recruited and he makes the difference. He's always willing to take on his responsibilities and he lifts the team. He has the will to win and talent."
Lucien Favre (Nice coach): "We expected them to give everything in the first half and then for them to run out of steam a bit and that's what happened. I regret the goal we conceded for 2-1 as they scored a bit against the run of play. In the first half we were in trouble but in the second half we were much better. That's football. We have two matches to play and we can still qualify for the Europa League. We have to do everything we can for that to happen."
SM Caen 1-2 AS Monaco
Patrice Garande (Caen coach): "I don't see what I could reproach my players for. I think we played very very well, but we lost. So we'll have to fight to the end. If we had played them all like we played that one, we wouldn't be in this position. Having said that, there's no reason to get carried away. There are still some things to do, still some possibilities. There are teams that are behind us, but it's tough to take today for the players."
Leonardo Jardim (Monaco coach): "We needed points to be able to keep working towards our objective. Today, it's a double win. A win that gives us three points and a win for the youth of Monaco who, at 17 or 18 years old and with five or six of them, showed the maturity that — in the present and future — will stay in the squad and validate Monaco's project."
AS Saint-Etienne 1-3 Girondins de Bordeaux
Jean-Louis Gasset (Saint-Etienne coach): "We felt this dip in energy coming for a while. But playing at three in the afternoon in that heat didn't help us. We could have taken a point, but we defended too badly after the first goal to hope for better. You have to remember that 14 players lost the game, that's what I'll be telling all the players. Today, if we had been as good as the fans, we would have won…I'm simply disappointed because, with a little luck, we could have taken a point."
Gustavo Poyet (Bordeaux coach): "We had the better chances, and could have led 3 or 4-1. Like that, the match would have been over by half-time. We knew they were in form, but we wanted to hurt them with the ball and not give in if they opened the scoring. That's what happened, but today, football was fair. It also gave Benoît Costil to do something nice by stopping a fifth penalty of the season. But the whole team worked well, and it's a game that will serve us well in the future."
Olympique Lyonnais 3-0 ESTAC Troyes
Bruno Genesio (Lyon coach): "This season will have been magnificent if it finishes like we hope, which is to be on the podium at the end of the league season. We're the masters of our own destiny, but we'll not have to slacken off, because we have two tough league games to come."
Jean-Louis Garcia (Troyes coach): "It's a little harsh. You know you might lose when you go to Lyon. We conceded the first goal on their first chance, and we weren't attentive enough for the second that came almost immediately afterwards. We played quite deep and we troubled them. I'm disappointed with Lille's win at Toulouse, that doesn't suit us. But we set out from the start to play the play-off, and we'll have to fight to the end."
Dijon FCO 3-1 EA Guingamp
Olivier Dall'Oglio (Dijon coach): "At the start of the game, we fell into our bad habits with technical errors. We were rough and ready, and the two teams were surprised by the heat. Our second goal knocked out Guingamp. We were good when we went deep, we knew we could hurt them. I want to congratulate the whole team. Those who work out of the limelight enabled us to win the match."
Antoine Kombouaré (Guingamp coach): "It's a fair defeat. Dijon were much better than us. We struggled a lot physically and in terms of committment. We dropped off mentally, and I'd like to congratulate Dijon, who played really well. Defensively, they broke through us quite a few times. It was a non-performance. It's not a question of motivation."
FC Metz 1-2 Angers SCO
Frédéric Hantz (Metz coach): "I want to think well about the match but as for what it means, we'll reflect on later. I'm disappointed and in no mood for analysis. It wasn't a great match.We scored first and we had courage. Tonight, it's very hard for everyone. This match is symbolic of the season. We're in the game but we feel that we're missing things. It all adds up to what happened today. For the whole season I've thought that FC Metz belongs in this division. We'll have to digest it. Life goes on."
Stéphane Moulin (Angers coach): "It's really satisfying, a real pleasure to be mathematically safe with two games left. When we remember where we were at halfway point, we would have signed on to fight until the final day. We're very happy to achieve our goal. It was a real performance. This victory sums the mood of the group up quite well. What I liked was that after the equaliser we kept trying to score. It was the perfect match at this time of the season. It's a real achievement to be chasing a fourth Ligue 1 season in August."
FC Nantes 2-0 Montpellier Hérault SC
Claudio Ranieri (Nantes coach): "It should have been a draw. We had the chance to score at the end of the first half with a penalty but then we conceded two big goals in 12 minutes in the second half. Phenomenal goals. We must congratulate our opponents for that! Afterwards, it was very difficult to do anything against the second best defense of the division. Now, we want a good finish in the final two games. We do the best for our club, for our supporters, who always fantastic. I think that's what the players want. I'm satisfied with them in training, and today, they didn't make a mistake, it was just two great goals. We cannot do anything about it!"
Michel Der Zakarian (Montpellier coach): "They didn't have a chance apart from the penalty. We defended well. In the second half, we were much more accurate and we scored two magnificent goals. We're still in the race for Europe. It was necessary to win at all costs to have any hope of finishing fifth. The rest doesn't depend on us but we had to win. After three defeats in a row, we did it in a good way. The main thing is that we won. For a coach to go back to his old club and get such an ovation is beautiful."
Stade Rennais FC 2-1 RC Strasbourg Alsace
Sabri Lamouchi (Rennes coach): "Whatever happens we took fifth place tonight. The win is good for our league position. It's worthy of note that despite our worries we found the solutions to win this game. We had the right ingredients to take full advantage in the second half. My team was brave and we deserve this victory. I'm very proud of my players' attitude. To win two home games in a row, against two teams fighting for their survival is impressive. We have a good dynamic. Since I've been here we've had boys who are listening, are involved, and who work hard. My players deserve this because they've done a lot of good things."
Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg coach): "We can do a lot better, of course, especially in avoiding making mistakes that allow opponents to score. During the first half Rennes made some moves but we didn't give up many chances. That means we were in the right places, even though we could have used the ball better. In the second half there were two or three situations where we failed to take advantage. We made mistakes bu I support the players. We're in a difficult cycle. We have to tackle things head on. The boys gave their best. It wasn't always pretty, but they gave their best."
Toulouse FC 2-3 LOSC
Mickaël Debève (Toulouse coach): "It's a disastrous scenario. We started very badly, then we came back and led at half-time. We cracked defensively and were punished by Lille, also because we were too nervous. We're in a delicate situation. My defensive tactics? The match required it. I'm the first person responsible for this defeat. Lille won here, so why wouldn't we be able to do the same against Bordeaux next time? There are six points left, and we need at least four."
Christophe Galtier (LOSC coach): "I may fall asleep and dream that the championship is over, but there are two games left and nothing is done. A key victory? This is an important win, but the next two matches will be just as important. We won at the right time, but it's not enough yet. We're still in the fight. I might look back on this game if we survive, but for the moment there is still work to be done."
Friday, May 4, 2018
Amiens SC 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Christophe Pélissier (Amiens coach): "They have astounded us again. This was to some extent the confirmation of how our season has gone. Every time the level goes up a notch, they find a way of responding to it. Even against Paris, we didn't renounce our game plan. We are living through super moments. This was a great evening, and it has been a great season! My staff and I are proud to have put together a team from this group of players. We are almost disappointed that it is ending in two weeks."
Unai Emery (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "Tonight the team did good things 90 percent of the time. We controlled the game well, had possession of the ball and created chances. Amiens took their chances when they came and scored two goals. We could have done better, but Amiens had a response. The Coupe de France is a great source of motivation for us now. We respect our opponents, who deserved their place in the final. We will prepare well. The players have the desire and motivation to go and win another title."