Kovac: “The difference in this final was Kylian Mbappé” – Coupe de France

At the Stade de France

Niko Kovac (Monaco coach, after the defeat against PSG in the Coupe de France final) : “Congratulations to PSG for the title. Over the 90 minutes, the difference is clear. They deserved the victory. In the first 15-20 minutes, we were a little scared. It was the first final for many of our players, while PSG have more experience, with in particular the final of the Champions League last year, half this year … You must always respect the opponent, but it was a bit too much in the first 20 minutes … We were a bit slow in the game. It wasn’t the best final I’ve seen. After the first Parisian goal, it was better, but we did not create enough chances. We learn. I hope we will come out of this game stronger. In Germany, when I lost my first final, I said I wanted to come back the following year. I say the same thing now. After the match, I told the players that they could be proud of having played the Coupe de France final at the Stade de France against PSG. You can only lose a final if you play it. It was an important moment for us. We are all disappointed, it’s normal to be, today (Wednesday), tomorrow maybe (Thursday), but from Friday, we must be fresh, ready and focused for the Lens match (Sunday), which can make our season fantastic (ASM is third in the standings before the 38th day, editor’s note).

» READ ALSO – Solid and led by a ruthless Mbappé, PSG offers itself a new Cup

(on Kylian Mbappé) I said before the match that he is the best player in the world. The difference in this final was Kylian Mbappé. He scores, he touches the bar, he gives a good performance… The first goal is a big mistake. It is not a youthful mistake, it can happen to all players. The second goal was fantastic. This is why all the clubs in the world want Mbappé. We had it, but that’s no longer the case. (on Wissam Ben Yedder, replaced at the hour mark) He’s OK. We were behind when I replaced him, but we have an important game on Sunday and some good players on the bench, that’s why he came out. There is no problem with him. (on Axel Disasi’s mistake) We are a team. We win and we lose together. At half-time, I said that mistakes are part of football, of life, and that we have to help him, try to turn the game in our favor. The team tried in the second half, and even after the first goal. We gave everything. But the details were not in our direction. The opponent was better, you have to accept it, raise your head and continue as we have been doing all season. ”

Kevin Volland (Monaco striker) : “I’m disappointed. When you lose, you are never satisfied… We may not have played at our best level, but we were up against a great opponent. We can be disappointed today, tomorrow too, but we have to raise our heads because we have an important match on Sunday. (on Axel Disasi) Mistakes are part of football… He is a very good young player. He will learn from this game, like all of us. We wanted to react in the second half, for Axel but for all of us. We may have respected PSG a little too much during the first 20 minutes. We played better afterwards, we showed our true face more. It’s a mistake, but we’re going to get up. Axel was disappointed, but we were all. We remain united in this kind of situation. We win and we lose as a team. We’re not going to point the finger at anyone. Nobody expected us in the final, what we do this season. We learn. I hope we will come back next season. Axel has had a very good season. No problem. (…) There is a little fatigue, we played a lot of matches, but we have an important last match. We want to play in the Champions League next season, it’s very important. I am sure that we will show our qualities and win. ”

Interview at a press conference