Breel Embolo: “We are where we want to be and we want to stay there”
He has been experiencing a small renaissance since his return to the pitches of Ligue 1 Away from the pitch for many months, Breel Embolo has taken part in three matches with AS Monaco since his return to competition. Eager to help his partners secure a place in the Champions League in this final sprint, the Swiss international spoke at a press conference before a visit from Clermont (Saturday, 17:00). 🎙️
On his feelings since his return
I’m very happy to be back, especially since I benefited from the team’s form, so I’m enjoying every minute spent on the pitch. It’s been almost a year since I was away, so I’m really happy to be back with the squad, to be able to travel, win and above all have fun with my teammates.
On his injury
I’m always hungry! I missed a lot of games this season, but the team did the job. It was a long absence, and difficult especially mentally, even if I was very well supported by the Club and outside it. It’s in these kinds of moments that we evolve as a football player, but also as a man.
His contributions for the end of the season
How can I help the team? It’s difficult to say, I’m a striker so above all I hope to score and be important, but I can also make my physical qualities speak for themselves. I hope to necessarily bring win, and do what the coach asks of me, particularly on a tactical level. It will depend on the preparations for each match, but it is important to help the team during this period, to achieve the objectives set.
On the matcg in Lyon
I don’t think we lost a chance to slip up. It was a month where we played a lot of big teams, with several victories to boot. The match in Lyon was a good Ligue 1 match, with two teams who know how to play offensively. We came back into the game well, but I thought we disappointed in the second half. We were able to get it back to 2-2, and then there was a chance for “Wiss” which came close to giving us the goal for 3-2.
We may have been a little naive about Lyon’s third goal, but it shows the character of the team, we want to move forward and win every match! We could also have kept a draw and a point. This is not a criticism, it is our philosophy that we keep for each match and we showed it again last Sunday. If we had made it 3-2, no one would talk about this error. We are not satisfied with just having a point, but we also sometimes have to be aware that a point is a point.
On preparing to face Clermont
We rested well, we analyzed this new opportunity well on Saturday to show that we want second place in the table and that we want qualification for the Champions League. We are taking each match very seriously, and we are totally focused on Clermont as we seek a third victory in a row at home. We are ready, calm, and determined to do the work on the pitch.
A desire to score?
I dream of scoring all the time! (laughs) I was already dreaming of my return, but as I already said the most important thing is to win, I don’t focus on the goal, I focus on my way of playing, the fact of being able to create opportunities and help the team as much as possible. A goal would be the icing on the cake!
The impact of his presence on the squad
I really missed the squad. I still tried to give advice from a distance, but it’s easier to help when you’re on the pitch. My goal was not just to watch the matches and give my opinion, I don’t like doing that when I’m not directly involved.
It was easier to be in the squad, to see more closely and to be there to interact with my teammates when needed. They know that I am a positive person but who doesn’t like losing, I can always have a positive impact.
About the last three matches
These will not be easy matches, even if our form is good. Clermont remains on a run of four good matches, and are a team which is playing to stay up, but which also knows how to play football well, as proven by their ninth-place finish last year. For our part we are on a good run, we are not looking left or right, we are doing the job on the pitch and we will see about a victory.
The mood in the squad
You will not see AS Monaco start to calculate. We want to win everything, but once again, each match is different and has its own story. It’s part of our strength to want to win at all costs, we have a young squad and most of these young players have played a lot throughout the season.
With my state of mind, in a match where the score is 2-2 I will do everything to look for the third goal, but the defenders for example will want to close out the game. We have to agree and find the right balance.
On the end of last season
The goal is to return to the Champions League! For what the Club represents, it makes sense to be there with the work we have done and we must now secure our place on the podium. I don’t want to forget last season because I was important in scoring goals. On the contrary, you have to learn from your mistakes in order to grow.
We could have done better for sure, but I think the Leverkusen match hurt us mentally and it stayed in our heads for too long. Plus the injuries, including mine, which were problems the end of the season… Today we are where we want to be but there are still important matches remaining to definitively secure this qualification!
