Philippe Clement and Krépin Diatta's reactions
It was a challenging match. Dominated in the duels, the Rouge et Blanc lost at the Stade Bollaert against Lens (3-0), with a double from Loïs Openda and an additional goal from Adrien Thomasson. After the match and despite the defeat, Philippe Clement and Krépin Diatta spoke with journalists to try to explain the match.
Hello coach. How do you feel after this defeat?
We were too weak tonight. When you hardly win a duel in the first half and the opponent’s intensity is much higher, you can’t win a match. I did not recognize my team. The second half was better, but when you have chances, you have to convert them.
L'AS Monaco s'incline à Lens.
Prochaine rencontre dimanche prochain face à Montpellier, au Stade Louis-II.
3️⃣-0️⃣ #RCLASM pic.twitter.com/mMrK1J2P2t
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 22, 2023
What do you think happened?
After the first goal, there was a sense of disconnection. I then saw a lot of communication among my players, but not enough drive to react and show another face. I would have liked to see the passion they have now after the game in the first half. They have shown great things in recent weeks, but tonight was not the best side of AS Monaco. Once again I am waiting for a reaction for the last six matches.
Does your goal remain the same now?
Things are not over. I’m awaiting a reaction from my team. No player can be happy after a first half like this. There was not an ideal run-up to the match either, with Golo falling ill. But that doesn’t prevent other players from winning thier duels. The objective remains to finish as high as possible at the end of the season. We don’t have to look at the table, we have to do the maximum each time to take the three points. It’s up to us to be there in the last six games.
Why is this Lens team so hard to play against?
Last year we had a draw here against this team, after winning in the Coupe de France against them after a very good performance from us (4-2). Today we didn’t show our best side. All the matches are difficult, it’s Ligue 1! Auxerre this afternoon took points against Lille. We have to be focused on the next match. I will talk to my players, and we will move forward.
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Did the team lack a bit of character?
We won against Paris Saint-Germain this season and have drawn against OM for example. You can’t say that my players haven’t been there in the big games. We must all bounce back together. I saw players who came back and showed energy despite everything. Lens did not put in the same intensity as in the first half, but unfortunately we did not have success in our finishing. Today’s match is a lesson for us to learn.
🔜⚔️ Le dimanche 30 avril à 13h au Stade Louis-II, l'AS Monaco reçoit le @MontpellierHSC !
La billetterie du match est désormais ouverte alors que les places pour les moins de 16 ans sont gratuites 🎟
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 19, 2023
Krépin Diatta’s reaction
“We struggled from the start and couldn’t gain control of the ball. We didn’t play like we did last weekend. We were keen to do well because we knew what was at stake in this match. We knew that Lens are a team that put intensity and is aggressive.They were the strongest side today and deserved their victory.
It’s a shame that we didn’t manage to put in place what we wanted to do but we didn’t win our duels. Of course it hurts to lose this match but there are still six games to go, some of which are against direct competitors. Now we have to move forward.”
Photos: Icon Sport
